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Microfiche 
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Collection  de 
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Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


£ 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6x6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  dttaiis 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibiiographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


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Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 

Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommag6e 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurte  et/ou  pellicul6e 


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Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restauries  et/ou  peMiculAes 


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Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gAographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


rri   Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
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D 


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Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
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□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ditach^es 

I      I    Showthrough/ 


Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualiti  inAgale  de  I'lmpression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppiimentaire 


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Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
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II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  aJoutAes 
tors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais.  lorsque  ceia  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  AtA  filmAes. 


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Additional  comments:/ 
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This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


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30X 

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to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

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Tha  imagaa  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacif ications. 


Original  copias  in  prlntad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
beginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriete.  All 
other  original  copias  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, end  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »•  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  mey  be  filmed  at 
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beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


1 

2 

3 

L'exemplaira  film*  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gAnAroeit*  da: 

University  of  British  Columbia  Library 


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conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmege. 

las  exemplairas  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
pepier  est  imprimis  sont  filmte  en  commenpant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  an  terminant  soit  par  la 
darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autras  exemplairas 
originaux  sont  filmte  en  commenpant  par  la 
pramiire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  darniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
darniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartas,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diff«rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  ciich*.  il  est  film«  A  partir 
da  I'engle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  an  bas,  an  prenant  le  nombre 
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illustrent  la  mAthoda. 


1 

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MI 


THE 


MISCELLANEOUS  DOCUMENTS 


OK  THK 


SENATE  OF  THK  UNITED  STATES 


FOR  THE 


SECOND  SESSION  OF  THE  FIFTY-THIRD  CONGRESS. 


1  893-94. 


VOLUME  H. 


WASHINGTON: 

OOVKBNMKNT    IMilNTINO   OPPTCE. 

18  9  5. 


53d 


C( 


2d  Session. 


53d  Congress,  )  SENATE.  (  Mis.  Doo. 

■  )  \    No.  2(M>. 


IN  THE  SENATE  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


REPORT 


GW  THS 


COMMISSIONER  OF  FISH  AND  FISHERIES 


J 


L 


OH 


mSMTIONS  i  THE  COLUMBIA  RIVER  BASIN 


nr  REQA^RO  TO 


THE  SALMON  FISHERIES. 


PRESENTED  BY  THE  VICE-PRESIDENT. 


Hat  3t,  1894.— Laid  on  the  table  and  ordered  to  be  printed. 


WASHINGTON: 

OOYBBNMENT  FBINTINO  OPFIOB. 

1894. 


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THE  SALMON  FISHERIES  OF  THE  COLUMBIA  RIVER  BASIN. 


By  MARSHALL  McDONALD, 
VnUtd  Siatn  Commistiontr  of  Fish  and  Fishtritt. 


n.  S.  OoMinssioii  09  Fish  and  Fishebibs, 

Woihington,  D.  0.,  May  31, 1894. 
Hon.  Adla.1  E.  Stbvenson, 

Fresident  of  the  Senate: 

SiB:  In  oompliance  with  inatractions  conveyed  in  the  provisions  of  the  Sundry 
Civil  Bill,  which  became  a  law  August  5, 1892, 1  have  the  honor  to  submit  a  report 
of  investigations  in  the  Oolnmbia  River  Basin. 

The  first  of  the  provisions  above  referred  to  authorized  the  expenditure  from 
the  appropriation  for  inquiry  respectiag  food-fishes  of  $2,000,  or  so  much  thereof  as 
may  be  necessary,  "In  examining  the  Clarke's  Fork  of  the  Columbia  liiver,  with  the 
view  to  ascertain  the  obstructions  which  prevent  the  ascent  of  salmon  up  said  river 
to  the  Flathead  Lake  and  adjacent  waters." 

The  secoud  provision  directed  an  investigation  and  report  respecting  the  advisa- 
bility of  establishing  a  fish-hatching  station  at  some  suitable  point  in  the  State  of 
Washington,  and  appropriated  for  the  same  "f  1,000,  or  as  much  thereof  as  may  be 
necessary." 

It  was  not  known  whether  the  failure  of  the  salmon  to  enter  the  Clarke  Fork  of  the 
Columbia  was  due  to  natural  obstructions  preventing  their  ascent,  or  was  to  be  attrib- 
uted to  the  extensive  fishing  operations  prosecuted  in  the  Lower  Columbia,  or  possibly 
to  other  causes  to  be  disclosed  by  the  proposed  investigation.  Again,  the  location  of 
the  hatchery  proposed  for  the  State  of  Washington  would  be  necessarily  determined 
by  our  ability  to  secure  an  adequate  supply  of  spawning  salmon  within  convenient 
distance  of  the  hatchery. 

It  appearing  probable  that  the  methods  of  the  large  fisheries  pursued  in  the  Lower 
Columbia,  if  permitted  to  continue,  would  effectually  intercept  the  run  of  salmon  to 
ihe  headwaters,  and  thus  defeat  the  object  for  which  the  hatchery  is  proposed,  it 
was  thought  proper  and  expedient  to  institute  a  general  investigation  covering  the 
entire  Columbia  Biver  Basin,  and  if  conditions  were  disclosed  threatening  disaster 
to  these  valuable  and  productive  fisheries,  to  bring  the  matter  to  the  attention  of 
Congress  and  the  States  interested  in  their  prosperity. 

The  direction  of  the  field  investigation  was  intrusted  to  Prof.  B.  W.  Evermann, 
assistant  in  the  Division  of  Inquiry  Respecting  Food-Fishes,  whose  report  is  appended 
to  and  constitutes  an  integral  part  of  the  report  of  the  Oommisaioner  of  Fisheries. 


.i""- 


INVE8TiaA.T10N8   IN   THE   COLUMBIA   RIVER    BASIN. 


A  very  complete  statistical  investigation  into  the  history,  methotla,  apparatus, 
present  conditions,  product,  and  annual  value  of  the  salmon  fisheries  of  the  Columbia 
has  also  been  made  by  Mr.  VV.  A.  Wilcox,  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  II.  M.  Smith, 
assistant  in  charge  of  the  Division  of  Statistics  and  Methods  of  the  Fisheiieis,  the 
results  of  which  are  embodied  and  discussed  iu  the  report  which  is  herewith  respect)- 
fuljy  submitted. 

OONDITIONS  DBTEBUININO  XHB  SALMON   PRODUOTION  OF  A  BIVBB  BASIN. 

There  are  fundamental  conditions  determining  the  .  .alraon  production  of  a  river 
basin  and  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  fisheries  which  may  be  maintained  without 
overtaxing  the  productive  capacity  of  the  river.  All  the  species  of  salmon  which  are 
the  object  of  the  fisheries  are  alike  under  the  constraint  of  a  natural  law,  which  com- 
pels them  to  enter  the  fresh  waters  for  the  i>tt."poseof  spawi.iiig.  Some  species  ascend 
to  a  relatively  short  distance  above  tidn  water.  Others,  lil^e  the  chinook,  push  their 
migrations  to  the  remotest  sources  of  the  rivers  and  tributary  streams  when  not  pre- 
vented by  natural  or  artificial  obstructions.  Where  the  area  of  distributioti  is  con- 
tracted by  the  erection  of  barriers,  dams,  or  other  obstructions  which  the  salmon  can 
not  surmount,  the  production  of  the  river  is  diminished  pro  tanto,  for  the  reason  that 
the  young  salmon  remain  for  some  mouths  iu  the  waters  in  which  they  are  hatched — 
they  must  here  find  their  food — and  consequently  the  extent  of  the  feeding-grounds 
open  to  them  will  be  the  measure  of  nature's  ability  to  repair  the  waste  occiisioued  by 
natural  casualties  and  the  fishing  operations.  If  there  be  no  contraction  of  the 
breeding  area  by  artificial  obstructions,  but,  on  the  other  hand,  the  limes,  methods, 
and  apparatus  of  the  fisheries  are  such  as  to  intercept  or  in  a  large  measure  prevent 
the  run  of  salmon  into  and  up  the  rivers,  then  a  serious  decline  in  the  fisheries  is 
inevitable. 

It  is  possible  by  fish-oultiu-al  operations  pursued  on  an  adequate  scale,  by  hatching 
and  planting  the  fry  in  the  head  waters  of  the  Columbia  and  its  tributary  streams, 
to  realize  the  full  productive  capacity  of  the  river,  so  long  as  eggs  can  be  obtained  in 
suuicient  numbers  to  furnish  a  basis  for  the  extensive  operations  required.  This 
would  nut  bo  possible,  however,  if  the  fishing  operations  in  the  lower  river  practically 
excluded  the  salmon  trom  the  streams  to  which  it  would  be  necessary  to  have  recourse 
to  obtain  a  supply  of  eggs.  It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  fish-cultural  operations  can 
not  be  relied  upon  exclusively  or  chiefly  to  maintain  the  salmon  supply  in  the  Columbia. 
The  regulation  of  the  times,  methods,  and  apparatus  of  the  fisneries  should  be  such 
as  to  assure  the  largest  opportunity  practicable  for  reproduction  under  natural  condi- 
tions. Artificial  propagation  should  be  invoked  as  an  aid  and  not  as  a  substitute  for 
reproduction  under  natural  conditions. 

THB  LIMITS  OP  MIOBATION  OF  SALMON. 

The  limits  of  migration  of  salmon  in  the  Columbia  River  basin,  as  determined  by 
impassable  falls  in  the  larger  tributaries  of  the  Columbia  and  their  affluents,  is  shown 
in  the  accompanying  chart,  there  being  no  serious  obstructions  existing  in  the  main 
river  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States. 

The  area  of  distribution  is  approximately  90,000  square  miles.  This  immense  tract 
is  drained  by  innumerable  streams  of  clear  cold  water,  into  which  the  salmon  enter 
for  the  purpose  of  spawning  and  up  which  they  ascend  till  their  progress  is  stopped 


INVESTIGATIONS    IN   THE    COLUMBIA    HIVER   BASIN.  0 

by  falls  or  other  obstructions  which  tlipy  cannot  surmount.  Tliese  waters  furniwh  the 
fec(lin<;  grounds  of  the  yuung  salmon  during  their  early  lite,  which  is  spent  in  tlit^  fresh 
waters.  Tlieir  migration  seaward  does  not  begin  until  they  are  at  least  a  year  old  and 
have  attained  a  length  of  from  8  to  10  inches.  These  streams  are  the  nurseries  of 
the  great  salmon  ilsheries  of  the  lower  Golumbia.  From  Oiich  goes  out  every  year  a 
colony,  more  or  less  numerous,  to  swell  the  aggregate  of  young  salmon  necessary  to 
repair  the  waste  by  natural  casualty  and  by  capture. 

The  area  of  natural  distribution  has  not  as  yet  been  very  niati;ii."v  abridged. 
Oertaiu  streams,  such  as  the  Bruneau  and  the  Boise,  have  been  obstru(,N  •  by  dams 
near  their  mouths,  but  the  vast  exteut  of  waters  still  accessible  t ;  almon  and 
attbrding  suitable  brceiling  ami  feeding  grounds,  indicates  that  we  iiist  Ic  )k  toother 
causes  to  explain  any  ascertained  deterioration  in  the  salmon  fish(   i.  «  of  the  Columbia. 


DEOBEASB  OF 


tON  IN  THE   HEAD   WATERS  OP  THU   OOLUMUr  1 


fVEB. 


Theli.  'stigations  made  by  Prof.  Bvermann  and  the  parties  ciider  his  directiou 
establish  conclusively  the  fiict  that  there  has  been  a  very  great  reduction  in  the  num- 
ber of  salmon  fre(iuenting  the  head  waters  of  the  Columbia  liiver  and  its  tributaries. 
This  decrease  is  more  aotable  in  the  main  river.  In  the  early  history  of  the  fishery 
salmon  were  found  in  the  head  waters  in  marvelous  abandaLce.  According  to  the 
information  obtained  by  Prof.  Evermann : 

They  were  abundant  in  the  Columbia  Eiver  at  Kettle  Falls  as  Inte  as  1878.  Since  then  there 
has  been  a  great  decrease.  They  have  been  scarce  since  1882.  Since  I'i'iK)  therw  have  been  scarcely 
any  at  Kettle  Falls.  The  Meyers  Brothers  say  that  thoy  have  been  almost  unable  to  buy  any  salmon 
for  their  own  table  from  the  Indians  for  three  years.  Certain  Indians  with  whom  we  talked  at  Kettle 
Falls  said  salmon  were  onoe  very  abundant  there,  but  that  very  few  are  seen  now.  Other  persons 
testified  to  the  same  effect.  Essentially  the  same  information  was  obtained  ref^ardinj;  the  decrease  of 
salmon  in  other  parts  of  the  npper  tributarieii  of  the  Columbia,  viz:  at  Spoknue,  in  both  the  Big  and 
Little  Spokane  rivers,  and  in  the  Snake  River  and  its  various  tributaries. 

Dr.  O.  P.  Jenkins,  an  assistant  of  Prof.  Evermann,  makes  the  following  report  in 
reference  to  the  Takima  River,  Washington : 

The  Yakima  Is  the  main  stream  of  the  valley.  It  receives  many  tributaries,  the  main  ones  being 
Manistash  and  Wilson  creeks.  The  river  near  the  city  (Ellensburg)  is  160  feet  wide,  by  an  average 
of  10  feet  deep,  and  flows  with  a  velocity  of  1  foot  per  second.  Temperature  at  9:15  a.m.,  August 
24,  1893,  60°  F. ;  water  clear.  Those  acquainted  with  the  facts  state  that  formerly,  up  to  about  1885, 
Mlmon  of  three  or  four  kinds,  including  the  qninnat,  ran  np  the  stream  to  this  valley  and  spawned  in 
the  river  in  great  numbers;  at  present  very  few  make  their  appearance. 

There  is  no  reason  to  doubt — indeed,  the  fact  is  beyond  question — that  the  number 
of  salmon  now  reaching  the  head  waters  of  streams  in  the  Columbia  Biver  basin  is 
insignificant  in  comparison  with  the  number  which  some  years  ago  annually  visited 
and  spawned  in  these  waters.  It  is  farther  apparent  that  this  decrease  is  not  to  be 
attributed  either  to  the  contraction  of  the  area  accessible  to  them  or  to  changed  con- 
ditions in  the  waters  which  would  deter  the  salmon  from  entering  tbo'ja.  We  must 
look  to  the  great  commercial  fisheries  prosecuted  in  the  lower  river  lur  an  explanation 
of  this  decrease,  which  portends  inevitable  disaster  to  these  fisheries  if  the  conditions 
which  have  brought  it  about  are  permitted  to  contiivue. 

The  relations  of  the  decreased  number  of  salmon  in  the  head  waters  to  the  devel- 
opment of  the  commercial  fisheries  is  brought  out  in  a  very  instructive  way  by  an 
analysis  of  the  following  table: 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA    RIVER    HASIN. 


Summary  of  the  lalmon-canning  industry  of  the  Columbia  Biter  from  it»  origin  to  the  present  tim«. 


Tear. 

Groftii weight  Niimlierof 
of  HaliiKin          cnHCB 
iitiliiod.     1    pouked. 

Value. 

Averai;e 

value 
per  uaso. 

Tear. 

OroKH  weight 
of  Hfthiion 
utiliiuU. 

Number  of 

cnnen 

packed. 

Valne. 

Average 

value 
per  case. 

1866 

1807 

1808 

18«» 

1870 

1»71 

1872 

1873 

1874 

1875 

1876 

1877 

1878 

1879 

1880 

Pound*. 

200, 000 
1,170.000 
1.  820,  Olio 
6.  600. 1100 
9,  7.10, 000 
13,0110,0(10 
16. 250,  OUO 
18.2.50.000 
22,750,000 
24, 375,  (KK) 
29,250,000 
24, 7110, 000 
29,900  000 
81.200,010 
84,450,000 

4,000 

18,  Olio 
28,  (100 
1(H),  OOO 
150.000 
200,  0(10 
2.50,  000 
25(1.  000 
8.5(1, 000 
875, 000 
4,5(1,  OOO 
8811,  000 
400,  000 
480,  (100 
630,000 

»64,000 
288, 000 
302  000 

1,  350.  (H)0 
1,800,000 
2,100,000 

2,  325.  UOO 
2,  250.  000 
2, 625.  OIK) 
2, 2.50,  (100 
2,475,000 
2, 062. 0,10 
2,300.000 
2, 640, 000 
2,050,000 

«16.00 

16.  (N) 

14.00 

13.  50 

12,00 

10,50 

9,30 

9,0(1 

7.50 

6,00 

6.60 

6.40 

6.00 

6.60 

6.00 

1881 

1883 

1883 

1884 

1885 

1S86 

1887 

1888 

1889 

IH'.KI 

1891 

1802 

1893 

Total. 

Fountli. 

35, 750. 000 
35,  184.  .'lOO 
40,011.(100 
40,  ;100. 11(10 
35.  007,  OiK) 
29,152.(1(10 

23,  140,  (1(10 
24,211,005 
20.  085, 495 
28.  7HI.:i85 
20, 4!iO  0:l5 
32,  185,»'I5 

24,  050,  000 

650,  OOO 
641.300 
029.  400 
820,  000 
653.800 
448,  500 
856,  000 
372,477 
309.  886 
4:i5. 774 
898,  9.5:1 
487,  .338 
370.000 

«2,  475.  000 

2,  em.  000 

3, 147,  (HJO 
2.915,000 
2,50(.>.0OO 

2,  i:i5, 000 

2,124,000 
2,  327,  OS  I 
1,800,820 
2,  407.  458 
2.240.904 
2, 079, 009 
2, 107, 500 

(4.60 
4.80 
6.00 
4.70 
4.51 
4.76 
6.07 
6.25 
6.81 
6.52 
6.62 
6.60 
6.70 

638,424,515 

10,098,427 

69,029,790 

6.86 

Canning  operations  on  the  Columbia  Kiver  began  in  1866,  when  4,000  cases  were 
packed  and  sold  at  an  average  of  $16  per  case.  As  early  as  1872  the  total  pack 
rea4;hed  250,000  cases,  the  price  per  case  having  declined  to  $9.  Each  succeeding 
year  operations  were  extended  and  readied  their  culmination  in  1883  and  1884,  when 
upwards  of  600,000  cases  were  packed  each  season.  From  this  time  on  the  catch 
declined,  having  reached  its  lowest  ]ioiut  in  1889,  the  number  of  cases  packed  that 
season  being  309,885,  or  less  than  half  the  number  of  cases  packed  in  1883  and  1884. 

Up  to  1888,  practically  the  entire  pack  consisted  of  the  king  or  chinook  salmon, 
and  the  fl.shing  season  did  not  extend  beyond  the  first  of  August.  In  1889  the  packers 
began  canning  bluebacks  and  steelheads  to  make  up  the  deficiency  in  the  supply,  and 
extended  their  operations  to  the  first  of  September. 

DETAILED  STATISTICS  OF  THE  SALMON  INDUSTRY  OF  THE  COLUMBIA  EIVEB,  1889-82. 

The  following  series  of  tables  shows,  in  some  detail,  the  extent  of  the  salmon  fishery 
and  canning  Industry  of  the  Columbia  Kiver  during  the  years  1889  to  1892,  inclusive, 
as  determined  by  the  inquiries  conducted  by  this  Commission. 

The  number  of  fishermen  and  shore  employes  connected  with  the  salmon  industry 
in  ea<'h  of  the  years  named  is  indicated  in  Table  A: 

A^— Table  $howing  the  number  of  pertont  employed  <n  the  taJmon  industry  of  the  Columbia  Iliver  from 

1S89  to  189t. 


How  engaged. 

1889. 

1890. 

1891. 

1892. 

Ore^nt 

I*  Iflherrn  en........ ■.•.....,.•..... •.•■•••... 

1,606 
870 

1,«8 
1,028 

1,029 
1,057 

!,0«4 
1,100 

ToUl 

4,476 

2,712 

2,986 

8,164 

WashlnKtoni 

Flahernien.....  •..•...........■...■•■.. .>>■.. 

1,636 
694 

1,510 
802 

1,676 
861 

1,677 
704 

Total 

2,129 

2,112 

2,228 

2,381 

Total  for  riven 

FtfllicrnieD •••••..••.... 

8,141 
1,464 

3,104 
1,030 

8,604 
1,711 

8,741 
1.BU4 

Total 

4,6C5 

4,824 

6,  Sit 

ft,84S 

IKYESTIOATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA   RIVER   BASIN. 


The  number  and  value  of  boats  and  apparatus  and  the  value  of  shore  property 
and  capital  employed  in  the  salmon  fisheries  of  the  Columbia  Hiver  in  1880, 18i)0, 1801 
and  1892  is  given  in  Table  B. 

B. — Kumbartmd  value  of  boat*  and  apparattu,  and  thf  valut  of  thor»  property,  and  ea$h  oapital  employed  in 
the  ealmon  induitry  of  the  Colntnbia  Biver  in  18S9,  1890, 1891,  and  189t, 


Appumtas  uid  ctpiUL 

1RS9. 

1800. 

1891. 

1891. 

Ko. 

Valna. 

Ko. 

Value. 

No. 

Value. 

Ho. 

Value. 

Orefroni 

751 

21 

102 

8 

7 

757 

81 

85 

(91),  850 

fi,90t 

72,300 

1,600 

4.800 

152.000 

120,  ail 

476 

502.966 

895,000 

778 
23 
08 

(104,400 
8.300 
78,600 

878 
80 

140 
1 
19 

790 
80 
60 

$120,815 

8.-<m 

98,900 

1.600 

11,150 

181,2115 

108,162 

300 

455.205 

520,000 

998 
29 

147 
2 
12 

861 
40 
60 

$131,560 

7.4UO 

173,4410 

1,600 

5.60 

190,100 

132,862 

230 

607.805 

814, 000 

Pile  driTers  and  soowi 

SeiDM 

6 

780 

19 

86 

1,700 
169,450 
107.562 
426 
486,355 
681,000 

OtUneU 

'Wheels               

Dip  neU  and  squw  neta .. 

ChthrapltAl.'. 

Xotol  

1,364,932 

1,524,682 

1    1,605,687 

1,764,607 

Waahlngtom 

Boata. ..••...... 

476 

89 

CI 

8 

83 

486 

9 

16 

80,840 

r,06o 

48.200 
1,400 
18,700 
88,775 
25,000 
75 
245,950 
804,000 

4«S 

87 

70 

1 

19 

431 
12 
18 

69,780 

9,060 

65,200 

1,400 

16,400 

89,480 

48,500 

90 

247,280 

831,000 

634 

42 
98 
2 
80 
472 
14 
13 

87,280 
10,750 
77,000 
1,400 
16,900 
101,780 
46,000 
116 
821,060 
332,000 

638 
45 

131 

1 

20 

453 
17 
26 

84.805 

13.560 

108,400 

700 

10,000 

98,!30 

49,100 

125 

282,800 

830,000 

Fi  led  rivers  and  acowa 

Pound  neta. ••■*•. •■•...••. 

Seinea 

Gill  neta 

Wheels 

Dip  neta  and  aqoawneta.. 
Shore  property. ..•....••■• 

Xotal 

801,490 



860,080 

973,276 

962,700 

Total  for  rlTari 

Boata ••■ 

1,828 

60 

184 

4 

40 

1,103 

40 

110 

160,190 

14,960 

120,600 

8,000 

23,600 

240,  775 

146,061 

550 

748,005 

690,000 

1,144 

60 
168 
2 
35 
1,192 
41 
103 

184,180 

16,250 

181,700 

1,400 

19,100 

148,930 

168,052 

615 

733,636 

912,000 

1,410 

72 

238 

4 

40 

1,262 

44 

83 

188,096 

19,050 

176,900 

3,000 

28.060 

283.045 

163,158 

416 

778,255 

862.  OU) 

1,598 
74 
878 
8 
88 
1,814 
57 
76 

196,446 

20.960 

276,800 

2,800 

15,660 

188,230 

181,  K62 

375 

790,606 

944,000 

PiladrlTera  and  soowa.... 

Seiuea 

GUI  neU..  

Wheels 

DIpneu  and  aquawneta.. 

Caah  capital... 

Total 

2,156,422 



1,883,762 

1,478,868 

1,717,307 

Gomparing  1892  with  1889,  we  find  increases  or  decreases  in  the  number  of  the 
difi'erent  sorts  of  apparatus  as  follows : 


Appsrutu*. 

1889. 

1888. 

Increase. 

Daoreaae. 

184 

40 

1,193 

40 

110 

878 
88 
1,814 
57 
76 

114 

1 

Gill  neta > 

121 
17 

Wheels 

it 

8 


iNVESTlaATlONB   iN   THE   COLnMBtA    RtVEB   BASlK. 


The  following  tables,  0,  D,  E,  and  P,  show  by  apparatus  tlie  number,  weight,  and 
value  of  each  species  of  Sainton  taken  in  the  Columbia  River  in  1889,  1890,  1891,  and 
1892: 

C. — Tablt  tkoteiny  by  apparaUu  th«  number,  weight,  and  value  of  each  tpeoiee  of  ealmon  taken  in  the 

Columbia  River  in  1889. 


Appanfcoi  and  speolM. 

Oregon. 

Washington, 

TotaL 

No. 

Ponnda. 

Value. 

No. 

Foonds. 

Value. 

No. 

Fonnda. 

Value. 

Ponnd  netat 

88,777 
83.372 
87,958 

3,189,426 
166,860 
379,646 

8108,469 
8,342 
11,386 

40,323 
34,li)» 
22,460 

1,008,076 
120.995 
224,600 

850,853 
6,904 
8,737 

137,100 
67,  671 
60,418 

8,177.600 
287,866 
804,146 

8168,823 
14,246 
18,128 

Blniibaolc. 

Stcelbead 

Total... 

168,107 

3,716,830 

128,197 

86,982 

1,853,670 

62,994 

246,089 

4,009.500 

191,191 

Trap  net*: 

710 
440 

17.750 
4,400 

887 
132 

2,276 
803 

66,876 
8,U30 

2.844 
241 

2,985 
1,243 

74.826 
12,430 

8,781 

m 

Steelhead    

Total 

1.160 

22,160 

1,010 

8,078 

84,906 

8,085 

4,228 

87.055 

4,104 

Soines: 

Chinook 

24,762 
8.600 
16,720 

618. POO 
17,600 
167,200 

80,840 

875 
4,81U 

63,782 
2,444 

43,078 

1,591,650 

12,225 

439,780 

79,727 

611 

13,193 

88,534 
6,944 
60.608 

2,213,850 

29.725 

6U6.980 

110,887 
1,486 
18,009 

Bluebaok 

BtMlboad 

Total 

QtUnetat 

Chinook  

44,973 

803,600 

36,631 

110,204 

2,046,556 

93,531 

165, 176 

2,860,066 

180,163 

252,044 
27,«2;t 
]«,472 

8,301,326 
139,116 
164,730 

812,663 
4,751 
6,090 

226,053 
17,218 
16,970 

5,759,060 

86.090 

169,700 

281,470 
3,044 

4,785 

478,097 
44,841 

32,442 

12,060,375 
225,205 
324,  420 

684,033 
7,795 
8,876 

Blaobaok  ..>...■■... 

Btoeltaeod 

Total 

WhmU: 

Chinook.... 

296,138 

8,606,160 

822.404 

269,241 

6,004.840 

289,299 

565,380 

11,610,000 

611,703 

16, 182 

140,090 

6,328 

4,600 

879,660 

700,460 

63,290 

81,600 

12,867 

23.090 

2,043 

630 

8,876 

61,064 

1,480 

2,540 

171,900 

230, 322 

14,800 

16,7IJ0 

6  978 

8,260 

484 

603 

22.068 

191, 164 

7,809 

7,040 

651,460 

830,772 

78,090 

48,280 

18,846 

82,360 

3,527 

1,133 

Blnolwck 

Bteelhead 

BUrar 

Total 

166, 101 

1,174,790 

88,630 

61,060 

433.802 

17,326 

228,061 

1,608,582 

66,865 

Dipneta  and  «aaawnetai 
Chinook..;. 

8,281 
18,810 
1,146 
6,143 

67,288 
84,650 
11.460 
8^994 

1,146 

1,841 

239 

640 

1,860 

8,113 

609 

8,176 

84,000 
40,660 
6.000 
22,226 

610 

808 

77 

883 

8,661 

35,023 

1,054 

8,317 

91,288 

125,110 

16,540 

68,219 

1,656 

1,449 

806 

Bluebaok.  •..■■■.■■-. 

Bteelhead 

gUver 

Total 

26,488 

189,277 

8,768 

18,166 

101.876 

1,528 

88.644 

391, 152 

6,284 

All  apparatnat 

Chinook 

881,768 

221,496 

78,064 

9,843 

8,644,133 

1,108,476 
790,605 
67,494 

488, 87i 

88,899 

33,696 

1.170 

840,669 

103,  OW 

86,200 

6,716 

8,824,460 

48U,  193 

862,000 

89.0G6 

431.883 

19,427 

36,617 

836 

723,416 

824.633 

164,261 

16,367 

18,168,683 

1,698,687 

1,842, 606 

108,498 

888,764 

68,828 

48,318 

3,008 

Bluebaok 

Bteelhead 

BIlTer 

Total 

881,867 

U,  610, 707 

630,637 

684,621 

10,006,647 

487,683 

1,336,678 

11,616,854 

898,389 

. 


raVESTIGATIONP    IN    THK   COLUMBIA    JtlVEK    BASIN. 


9 


D. — Tabl«  ehowinji  by  apparatut  tht  number,  weight,  axd  value  •/  each  tpt,  '«*  of  tatmon  taken  in  tk» 

Columbia  Sirer  in  1890. 


Apparatus  ar.d  species. 

Oregon 

Washington. 

Total. 

No. 

Founds. 

Volae. 

No. 

Pounds. 

Value. 

No. 

Pounds. 

Volno. 

Pound  nets; 

Chinook 

104,  OM 
60,403 
51,600 

2,802,475 
252,465 
616,000 

«78,491 
6,048 
6,160 

71,848 
42,097 
41,412 

1,783, 660 
310,486 
414,120 

>63,610 
4,209 
4.140 

175,445 
92.690 
03,012 

4,386,125 
462,050 
030,120 

«1S2.001 
9.257 
9,300 

Blaebook  

Ste«Uiead 

Total 

206.192 

3,370,040 

88,699 

154,856 

3,408,255 

61,850 

361,047 

5,779,106 

180.558 

Trap  nets; 

3,6» 

803 

2,970 

90,725 

1,515 

29,700 

2,721 

SO 

298 

8,629 

303 

3,979 

00,726 

1,616 

29.790 

2,721 

30 

208 

Bluebaok •••.• 



Steelheod 

Totol 

6,911 

122,080 

8,049 

6,911 

122,480 

8,040 

Seines; 

10,750 
2,250 
9,013 

268,760 
11,250 
90,130 

8,0*3 
225 
901 

61,753 
14,292 
88,701 

1,84.1,800 
71,480 
867,010 

41,402 
1,425 
3.  080 

64,603 
16,542 
46,714 

1,812,560 
82,710 
457, 140 

49,465 
1,680 
4,570 

Bluebaok  

Steelheod 

Total 

22,013 

870, 130 

9,189 

104,743 

1,782,270 

46,496 

126,758 

2, 152.  400 

65,685 

aUlneU; 

Chinook 

869. 196 
81,909 
29.593 

9,229.700 
409.845 
205.  935 

288,730 
8,440 
3,819 

211,875 
25,718 
18,835 

6,366,675 
138,500 
186, 360 

168, 167 
2.884 
2,467 

580,871 
107,827 
48,228 

14,508.375 
5.18, 135 
482,285 

464,897 

li,  324 
6,286 

Total 

480,098 

9,935,180 

300,989 

286,028 

5,691,615 

171,618 

736,726 

15.626,795 

472,607 

Wheals: 

Chinook •••.••. 

83,203 

529,848 

71,239 

4,480 

2,080,053 

2,648,155 

712,300 

81,612 

62.401 

79,444 

16,474 

749 

27,972 

207,208 

13,801 

1.600 

899,817 

1, 0.16,  468 

138.010 

10,500 

20,979 

80,431 

2,323 

210 

111,174 

736,944 

85,040 

6,160 

2,779,370 

3, 084,  020 

850,400 

42. 112 

83,880 

109,876 

18,706 

059 

Steelheod 

SUver 

Total 

688,747 

6,472,210 

159,068 

280,671 

1,884,292 

53,943 

930,318 

7,856,502 

313,010 

Dip  nets  ond  sqoaw  net* ; 

6,021 
82.748 
11,000 
10,180 

126,634 
103,740 
110,000 
71,260 

1,9.18 
2,4.'>0 
1,660 
1,068 

3,242 
7,717 
1,402 

4,600 

56,088 
88,685 
14,028 
81,600 

841 
679 
210 

472 

7,263 
40,466 
12,4U2 
14,680 

181,602 
202.  826 
124,025 
102,  700 

3,799 
8,029 
1,860 
1,640 

Steelheod 

Silver 

Total 

58,84« 

470,584 

7,128 

16,861 

140,178 

2,102 

74,810 

610,712 

9.328 

AUoppoTotiur 

Chinook 

672,268 

697,046 

172,445 

14,840 

14.808,612 

3,485,156 

1,724.456 

102,872 

4.19,848 

95,607 

18,004 

1,817 

870,816 

207,425 

114,930 

6,000 

0,840,235 

1,407,100 

1,149,806 

42,000 

386.620 

80,658 

18,106 

682 

042,884 
004,471 
287,375 
20,840 

28,646,747 

4,082,285 

2,873,760 

144,872 

725,283 

138, 166 

41.110 

2,499 

Steelheod 

surer 

Total 

1.456,6W 

19,618,994 

885,071 

788,971 

12,028,640 

838,  88« 

2,245,570 

31,647,634 

904.037 

10 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA   RIVER   BASIN. 


F..— Table  ihowing  by  a^paratut  the  number,  weight,  and  value  of  each  ipeoiei  of  ealmon  taken  in  the 

Columbia  Biver  in  1891, 


Apparatus  and  apecies. 

Orrgon. 

Waahlngton. 

ToUL 

Ko. 

Founds. 

Value. 

Ko. 

PouuiU. 

Yslus. 

No. 

PouiiJa. 

Value. 

Fmind  ncta: 

Chinook 

llllli'llBCk 

108.  983 

2'.',  088 
54,080 

2,724.575 
114.1140 
5tO,8UO 

«108.083 
2.208 
7,020 

94,824 
52, 1U4 
44.448 

3,863.600 
260,840 
444,  464 

(94,  .m 
6,336 
6.  308 

201,007 

75,152 
08,528 

6, 000. 175 
375,780 
985,204 

8203,577 
7,634 
13,337 

Total 

186,  031 

8, 380, 315 

118,310 

191.  236 

3,  070, 004 

100,238 

377,287 

8,451,219 

224,548 

Trap  nota: 

CliimKik 

«30 
148 
786 

16,750 

740 

7,860 

830 
15 
118 

712 

17,800 

7ia 

1,842 
148 

1,287 

33,5.10 

740 

12.870 

1,342 

15 

193 

BUichat-k 

601 

6,010 

76 

1.584 

24,350 

763 

1,213 

22,810 

787 

2.777 

47,160 

1,6.10 

SeincH: 

Chinook 

16,489 
2,252 

6,  una 

837 

412,225 
11,260 
80,920 
6,099 

16,480 
225 
919 
190 

48,598 

8,325 

27,469 

1.214.900 

41.625 

274.600 

36.884 
l,2-.'l 
5,487 

81,085 

10,577 

32.561 

857 

1,027,!25 

52. 8X5 

325.  610 

5,089 

63,373 

1.448 

6, 386 

190 

llhirbaok 

Silver 

Total 

Gillnfita: 

24,600 

480,404 

17.823 

84,390 

1,531.215 

43  672 

109,  080 

2,011,610 

61,303 

448.500 

25.879 

17, 274 

285 

11,212,600 

131,  395 

172,  740 

1,095 

447,031 

4, 102 

3,541 

60 

208,833 

15,268 

20,581 

694 

5,341,525 

70,  340 

20.1,  815 

4,868 

208,593 

2,089 

8,468 

145 

857,133 

40,047 

87,855 

970 

16,554,025 

207, 735 

378, 5^5 

3,863 

8,16,  62J 

6.601 

7,009 

205 

lUueback 

Steflhead    

Silver 

Total 

491.738 

11,  518,  6:io 

454,734 

245,176 

5,  028,  638 

214.705 

736,914 

17, 147, 108 

6«9,  529  1 

Wheels: 

23,646 
80,  004 
27,  0.t3 
4,020 

591,163 
400,020 

270,  b;io 

34,440 

17,735 

12,000 

8,873 

933 

0,821 
86,675 
11,538 

2,730 

240.  540 

183,  375 

115,360 

10,110 

7,216 

6,5112 

8,460 

573 

33,206 

116,  079 

38.  .1K9 

7,650 

831,803 
683,  395 
385,890 
63,650 

24,051 

17.602 

10,135 

1.506 

Stt>«lhead 

Silver 

Total 

Dipneta  anilsqnawneta: 
Chtnnok 

135,  622 

2.943 

30,  436 
7.4.19 
10,  370 

1, 200, 143 

87.343 

60,662 

568, 3»5 

16,751 

108, 184 

1,854,5':8 

84,004 

73,591 
152, 182 
74,690 
72,  501 

1,119 

2,388 
1,149 
1,089 

403 
13.887 
2.018 
4,200 

10.  083 
60.918 
20  104 
2U.  820 

151 
914 
802 
447 

3,348 
44,323 

9.475 
14,030 

83,674 
213,100 

94,  7f)4 
102,411 

1,270 
8,302 
1,451 
1,638 

Itiiiclmck  

Silver   

Total 

61,208 

372,  954 

5,745 

20,668 

120.  986 

1,814 

71.774 

493,0;j9 

7,550 

All  apparatus: 

601,100 

101.. S07 

111.744 

16,432 

15,029,794 

810,  637 

1,117,440 

115,026 

601,987 
21,028 
19, 431 
2,272 

362.  .589 

I'JB,  319 

106  .V.1 

7,681 

»,  190,  448 

623, 008 

1, 065.  503 

53,788 

84i.,lS0 

16.  6(12 

19, 080 

1,165 

963.779 

287,826 

218.  205 

24,116 

24,220,242 

1,433,0:15 

2,182.043 

168,813 

940, 137 
88,590 
38.  611 
3,437 

silver 

Total  

890,873 

17.072,798 

834,718 

803,143 

10,932,837 

883,967 

1,494,016 

28,006,633 

1,018,676 

INVK8TIGATION8   IN   THE   COLUMBIA    RIVER   BASIN. 


II 


(alcoti  in  th» 


aL 


ids.      Value. 


).175 
),780 
>,264 


1,219 


3,550 

740 

2.870 


»203, 577 
7,634 
13, 337 


224,548 


1.842 
15 
193 


7,160  I 


1,650 


7,125 

2.  RcS 
5,  610 
5,999 


1,619 


>4,026 
17, 735 
«,  5.W 
3,853 


63,373 

1.448 

6, 386 

190 


61,305 


«*.  sai 

6.691 

7,009 

2U5 


17, 108       «»,  629  1 


31,693 
ti3,  3U5 
85,890 
53,550 


54,  628 


13, 674 

1,100 

W.  7;i4 

02,411 


24,061  I 
17. 5U2 
10,135 
1,506  I 


93, 9:J9 


20,242 
I,  o:i5 

2. 1143 
tl8. 813 


06,633 


64,004 


1,270 
8, 302 
1,451 
1,536 


7,659 


940, 137 

86,690 

88. 511 

3,437 


1,018,676 


y. —  Table  ihowing  by  apparaitu  the  number,  weight,  and  value  of  each  tpeciet  of  aalmon  taken  in  the 

Columbia  Rirer  in  189t. 


Apparatns  and  speciea. 

Oregon. 

Washington. 

Total 

No. 

Founds. 

Talua. 

Ko. 

Pounds. 

Yalna. 

Ko. 

Toil  nils. 

Value. 

ruundneUi 

127,  627 
99.002 
112,001 

3,191,676 

498.  UIO 

1,120,010 

»127,627 
10,010 
16,809 

«„852 
191,222 
76,098 

2,246,300 
956,110 
700,980 

880,852 
19,122 
11,549 

217,470 
290,824 
180, 659 

6,537,075 
1,454,120 
1,89(1,500 

*217,479 
20,  l:)2 
28,448 

lllueback 

Total 

339,890 

4,816,295 

151,536 

358,072 

3,972,390 

120,523 

697,962 

8,788,685 

275,059 

TraDneta: 

Chinook  

630 
210 
879 

13,250 
1.200 
8,790 

630 
24 
132 

20 

600 

20 

650 

240 

1,029 

13,760 

1,200 

10,290 

650 

24 

282 

Stealhewl 

150 

1,530 

160 

Total 

1,649 

23,240 

686 

170 

2,000 

170 

1,819 

25,240 

856 

Suinea: 

Chinook...... 

27,707 

48,  .347 

18,544 

1,428 

689,536 

237,  736 

185,352 

10,000 

20,686 
7,132 

8,707 
300 

27,682 
76,031 
34,843 

689.550 
375, 185 
848,430 

20,687 
11,256 
0,909 

65,289 

123,  378 

63, 387 

1,428 

1,879,085 

612,920 

633,782 

10,000 

41,373 

18.388 

10,676 

300 

Bluebaok 

Steelhuad 

gUver 

Total 

96,026 

1,122,622 

81,825 

137,466 

1,413,166 

38,912 

233.482 

2,635,787 

70,737 

GUlceU: 

Chinook 

355,716 
94,141 
37,043 

8,892,870 
470, 705 
370,430 

365,715 
0,714 
6,866 

223, 197 

21, 021 

83,428 

714 

6,716,675 

110, 106 

834,280 

6,000 

223,167 

3,303 

6,090 

150 

678,912 

115, 162 

70,471 

714 

14,608,645 

680,810 

704,710 

5,000 

678,882 

13,017 

10,9.'>6 

150 

Bluelmck 

Silver 

Total 

486,899 

9,734,005 

371,295 

278,360 

6,165,060 

231,710 

765,259 

16,809,066 

603,005 

Wheels: 

46,964 

814,685 

95.654 

30,265 

1, 149, 116 

1,572,923 

95«,  510 

274,786 

84,474 

47, 187 

28,099 

8,234 

19,706 

145,766 

46,056 

4,872 

417,630 

728,832 

450,660 

34,104 

12,620 

21,865 

13,517 

1,023 

32,669 
460,  .151 
140,710 

44,127 

1.666,746 

8,301,755 

1,407,100 

308,889 

47,008 

69,062 

42,213 

9,257 

Bluebaok 

Steelliead 

gUver 

Total 

495,458 

3,953,863 

118,691 

212,399 

1,631,126 

48,934 

707,857 

6,584,480 

107,625 

Dip  neU  and  squaw  neta : 

1.356 
69,023 

6,780 
12,386 

33,900 

295.100 

67,  802 

86,703 

609 
4,427 
1,017 

\  301 

678 
16,880 
2,8il0 
4,850 

14,450 
76,900 
28,000 
33,950 

217 

1,164 

434 

610 

1,034 
74,403 

9,670 
17,236 

48,350 
372.000 

90, 702 
120. 65J 

728 
6,681 
1,451 
1,811 

Btetlhead 

gUver 

Total 

79,545 

483,  514 

7.254 

23,698 

164,200 

2,815 

103,213 

837,714 

0,669 

All  apparatus ! 

Cliluook 

558,809 

615,038 

271,561 

53,009 

18,970,346 

8,075,682 

2,716,624 

371,488 

630,  Sll 

78,4-4 

66,blf 

0,835 

857,934 

448,  420 

193,365 

10,436 

9,084,106 

2,247,132 

1,033,650 

73,054 

848,472 

56,700 

87,700 

1,683 

016.833 

1,064,358 

464.028 

63.505 

23,054,450 

6,322.814 

4,619,174 

444,  542 

886.013 
135,194 
04,026 
11,518 

SUver 

Total ,... 

1,499, 467 

20,133,039 

684, 187 

1,010,166 

13,337,941 

442,664 

2,609,622 

83,470,980 

1,126,761 

The  namber  and  location  of  the  salmon  canneries  operated  on  the  Columbia  JEUver 
in  the  years  1S89  to  1892  were  as  follows: 


Location. 

1888. 

1890. 

1891. 

1892. 

iKMatlOB. 

1889. 

1890. 

1891. 

1892. 

Oregon  1 

Astorta  ••••.■■..•••... 

8 

1 

1 

1 
1 

8 

8 
1 

1 

1 
1 

Washington  1 

llwaoo 

1 

1 

Clifton 

llaole  Dell 

Chinook 

Pillar  Rook 

Sallea 

Brookfleld 

Celllo 

Wat«rford 

Portland*  ...• 

Baraka  •.•■••••• •• 

Xetal 

llAthlatntift 

12 

12 

12 

14 

Bay  View... 

KaglsOllir 

T)t»l 

0 

1 

)           10 

Grand  total 

31 

ii 

i 

r      44" 

*  Thla  oannerj,  on  the  Willamette  River,  rscalred  lU  flab  from  the  Columbia  Bivar. 


. 


12 


INVE8TIGATION8   IN   THE   COLUMBIA    RIVER    BASIN. 


The  proportion  of  each  species  of  salmon  in  the  salmon  pack  of  the  Golnmbia 
Kiver  from  1889  to  1892  is  shown  in  Table  G: 

O. — Table  ahowinc  by  tptoiet  the  ealmon  pack  of  the  Columbia  Siverfrom  1889  to  1899. 


States  and  speciea. 

1889. 

18110. 

len. 

1892.                 j 

Cusea. 

Value. 

Cases. 

Value. 

Coaea. 

Value. 

Cuaea. 

Value. 

Oregon : 

Chinook .  ......•■> 

140, 741 
15,  U79 
11,UJ2 

$844,446 

90,628 
49,899 

196,414 

63,  351 
26,008 

»1, 138,787 
2U8. 104 
106,  432 

222.(163 
10.  a59 
15,584 

$1,279,092 
62,  2W 

214, 631 

61,106 

46, 4»3 

4,170 

$1,244,600 
287,084 
181,612 
20,880 

Steelhead 

silver 

Tot4l 

168,412 

984,973 

•76.  373 

1,613,323 

249.406 

1,400,144 

315,316 

1.734.976 

WMhlngtoni 

126,956 
1,818 
13,699 

755,736 
10,423 
68,688 

139, 190 
8,904 
16,  217 

807,300 
21,966 
84,868 

130,944 
4,623 
13,980 

759,474 
2.'>,426 
65,920 

129,836 
16,441 
26,946 

761,888 
84,925 
107,280 

Hluehack  

Silver 

Total 

141,  473 

824,847 

169,401 

894, 133 

149,  547 

840,820 

172,022 

944,093 

Total  for  ri vert 

266,697 
17,797 
25,391 

1,600,182 
101,051 
108,587 

335,  (104 
67,345 
42,825 

1,940,087 
290,069 
171,300 

353,  907 
15,482 
20  'Mt 

2,038,666 
84,242 
118, 156 

344,267 
66,  647 
72,348 
4,176 

1,996,388 

372,909 

288,892 

20,N80 

Bluebaok  ...••■••> 

Steelbead 

Silver 

Total 

309,886 

1,809,820 

436,774 

2,407,456 

398.963 

2,240,964 

487,338 

2,679,068 

In  1893  the  pack  of  chinonk  aabnon  >inonDted  to  290,000  caaea. 

The  extent  to  which  the  different  species  of  salmon  enter  into  ibe  pack,  and 
the  variations  in  the  proportions  during  the  four  years  covered  by  the  figures,  are 
shown  in  the  following  table.  It  appears  that  in  1892  the  percentage  of  chinook  sal- 
mon canned  was  less  and  that  of  each  of  the  other  species  great  er  than  in  any  of  the 
preceding  years. 

F^etnlage  of  each  tpeoiet  of  salmon  in  the  lalmon  pack  of  the  Columbia  River  from  1889  to  1899, 


Species. 

1889. 

1800. 

1891. 

1892. 

86.06 
5.74 
8.20 

77.01 
13.16 
0.83 

88.71 
8.88 
7.41 

70.64 

13.65 

14.85 

.86 

Blueback 

Silver 

Total 

'     '     "■ 

100.00 

100.00 

100.00 

100.00 

In  discussing  the  data  furnished  by  the  foregoing  tables  and  others  which  will 
follow,  I  will  conttue  myself  to  the  chinook  salmon  for  the  following  reasons : 

1.  It  is  the  most  important  species  considered  ecoiiomioally. 

2.  It  is  taken  equally  by  ail  forms  of  apparatus. 

3.  Active  fishing  operations  continue  practically  during  the  entire  period  of  its 
sojourn  in  the  river,  and  it  is  therefore  the  species  which  would  be  the  first  to  feel  the 
iniluence  of  excessive  fishing. 

These  considerations  do  not  apply  wi^.h  equal  force  to  the  other  species,  viz,  the 
steelhead,  the  blueback,  and  the  silverside,  which  are  taken  under  similar  conditions 
and  at  present  constitute  about  one-fourth  of  the  entire  pack. 

The  spawning  run  of  the  steelhead  takes  place  before  fishing  operations  have 
began  on  the  river. 


, 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA    BIVUR   BASIN. 


18 


e  Columbia 


S9g. 


1892. 

m. 

Value. 

631 
1U6 
410 
176 

$1,244,600 

2H7, 984 

181,613 

20,880 

318 

1.734,978 

63« 
Ml 
946 

761,888 
84,925 
107,280 

022 

944,093 

267 
547 
348 
17« 

1,996,388 

372,909 

288,892 

20,880 

338 

2,679,069 

e  pack,  and 

figures,  are 

Chinook  sal- 

n  any  of  the 

9  to  189M. 


:a  which  will 
}us: 


jeriod  of  its 
St  to  feel  the 

cies,  viz,  the 
br  conditions 

irationa  have 


The  spawning  ruu  of  the  silveraide  takes  place  after  canning  oi>erationa  are 
concluded  for  the  season,  while  the  small  size  of  the  blneback  gives  it  comparative 
immunity  from  capture  by  the  gill  nets,  which  take  much  the  larger  part  of  the  king 
Rivlmon. 

Referring  to  Table  G  we  find  thut  the  pack  of  the  chinook  or  king  salmon  on  the 
Columbia  Kiver  in  the  years  1889, 1890,  1891, 1892,  and  1893  was  as  follows: 

KO.  or  CMM. 

1889 266,697 

1890 335,604 

1891 3.53,907 

1892 344,267 

1893 290,000 

Or  an  average  of  318,095  casM  per  aiiunm. 

In  the  previous  five  years,  beginning  with  1884,  the  pack  of  salmon,  consisting 
almost  entirely  of  cliiiiook,  was  as  follows: 

Nu.  of  caHes. 

1881 620,000 

1885 553,800 

1886 448,500 

1887 356,000 

1888 372,477 

Or  an  average  of  470,155  cases  per  annam. 

It  will  be  seen  that  in  the  five  years  beginning  in  1884,  the  average  pack  per 
season  was  152,060  cases  in  excess  of  the  average  pack  of  the  flve-year  period  begin- 
ning in  1889.  During  the  latter  period  the  amount  of  netting  in  use  had  been  greatly 
increased,  the  fishing  season  extended,  and  the  movement  of  the  salmon  into  and  up 
the  river  more  completely  intercepted. 

Undoubtedly,  for  the  reasons  above  stated,  the  proportion  of  the  entire  run  of 
salmon  caught  was  larger  in  the  latter  than  in  the  former  period  of  five  years,  which 
suggests  that  the  decrease  of  salmon  in  the  latter  period  compared  is  probably  larger 
than  is  indicated  by  the  diflFerence  in  the  average  catch.  Tiiere  is  no  reason  to  doubt 
that  this  decrease  is  due  to  and  inherent  in  the  conditions  under  which  the  salmon 
fisheries  of  the  river  are  now  prosecuted,  and  that  it  will  continue  progressively  so 
long  as  these  conditions  continue. 

The  lower  average  of  the  pack  during  the  five-year  period  ending  with  1893  is 
due  to  conditions  interfering  with  and  limiting  natural  reproduction  during  the  period 
of  1884  to  1888,  when  access  to  the  head  waters  was  not  impeded  to  the  extent  it  now 
is  by  the  fishing  operations.  Tlie  influence  of  the  more  efi'ective  exclusion  of  the 
salmon  from  their  breecling-grounds  for  the  last  five  years  ia  yet  to  be  disclosed. 
The  seed  for  the  harvest  of  the  present  year  was  sown  in  1888  or  1889.  What  the 
extent  of  the  harvest  will  be  depends  upon  the  opportnnity  that  was  afibrded  in  these 
years  for  the  salmon  to  reach  their  spawning-grounds. 

For  the  ensuing  five  years  we  are  powerless  to  influence  conditions.  What  the 
I)roduction  will  be  has  been  already  determined,  so  far  as  we  can  influence  it  eitlier  by 
the  regulation  of  the  fisheries  or  by  artificial  propagation.  There  is  every  reason  to 
apprehend  that  for  the  five  years  to  come  the  average  production  of  'ling  salmon  \i  ill 
be  lower  even  than  the  average  for  the  five  years  just  passed.    This  is  the  penalty 


14 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN  THB   COLUMBIA   RIVEB   BASIN. 


that  most  be  paid  for  the  improvidence  and  total  disregard  of  the  conditious  necessary 
to  maintain  snpply  whicli  has  characterized  the  operations  of  the  salmon  fishermen  on 
the  Columbia  Kiver. 


AET:"7I0IAL  PEOPAGATION  op  salmon  on  the  COLUMBIA  BIVEB. 

In  1888  the  U.  S.  Fish  Commission,  by  direction  of  Congress,  established  a  salmon- 
hatching  station  on  the  Clackamas  Biver,  Oregon.  The  work  done  is  given  in  the 
following  table : 

Statement  Bhowing  the  number  of  Quinnat  talmon  egg»  eolUoted  and  fry  di%trihuied  from  Claokamat  Station 
lince  it*  organization  by  the  U.  S.  Fith  Commiiiion  to  the  close  of  thefiical  year  1893, 


Flaoal  year— 

Egga  ooUeoted. 

dlatrfbuted. 

Pry 
diatrlbntod. 

1888-89 

4,500,000 
4,314,000 
5,  88U.  OUO 
2, 036, 000 
4,444,000 

4,800,000 
2,768,475 
4,002,000 
1,332.400 
4,100,000 

1889-00 

1,000,000 
700,000 

1890  01 

1891-92 

X892-93  

Xotol 

21,154,000 

1,700,000 

17.600,875 

KoTK The  try  were  all  dopoalted  in  the  Clackamaa  River,    The  1,700,000  eega  irere 

ftarnisbed  to  the  Oregon  Sah  commlaafon  and  the  trj  produced  were  deposited  in  the 
Olacliainaa  River. 

This  work  was  undertaken  on  the  urgent  solicitation  of  those  concerned  in  the 
salmon  fisheries  of  the  Columbia  River,  who  realized  that  their  fisheries  were  being 
exhausted,  and  it  was  hoped  that  some  compensation  for  the  deficiency  in  natural 
reproduction  could  be  made  by  artificial  stocking  and  breeding.  It  is  certain  that 
this  work  has  exercised  some  conservative  influence  upon  the  catch.  It  is  doubtful, 
however,  whetlier  it  has  been  on  a  suflBciently  extensive  scale  to  compensate  for  the 
damage  resulting  from  the  interference  with  natural  reproduction  by  the  operation  of 
the  fisheries. 

THB  FISHING-OBOtmDS. 

On  the  accompanying  charts,  the  locations  of  the  fishing-grounds  resorted  to  by 
tlie  fishermen  using  difi'erent  kinds  of  appartitus  are  indicated,  and  tlie  number  and 
position  of  the  fixed  appliances  operated  in  1892  are  shown. 

The  fishing-grounds  of  the  Lower  Columbia  extend  from  the  mouth  of  the  river  to 
Ealama.    Tlie  apparatus  employed  consists  of  gill  nets,  pound  nets,  and  haul  seines. 

The  greater  number  of  pound  nets  are  located  in  Baker  Bay,  on  the  Washington 
side  of  the  river  and  on  the  outside  of  Sand  Island.  They  are  not,  however,  confined 
to  this  region,  but  are  located  at  every  point  of  vantage  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  from 
the  month  up  to  Ealama,  a  distance  of  80  miles. 

The  haul  seines  are  located  either  on  the  shores  or  flats,  wherever  a  desirable 
locntion  can  be  found. 

The  principal  region  of  gill-net  fishing  extends  from  the  mouth  of  the  river  to 
Cathlamet  Bay,  and  covers,  practically,  the  entire  river  outside  of  the  limits  of  the 
pound  nets.  Other  important  areas  of  gill-net  fishing  are  in  Cordell  channel,  in  the 
channel  and  back  of  the  islands  opposite  Pillar  Eouk  and  Brookfield,  and  in  the 
long  reach  of  river  from  Puget  Island  to  Eagle  Cliff.     Minor  fishing  operations  are 


INVESTIGATIONS    IN   THE   COLUMBIA    RIVER   BASIN. 


15 


)  necessary 
jhermen  on 


SB. 

d  a  salmon- 
riven  in  the 


jkamat  StatUt* 
393. 


condacted  between  Kalaina  and  the  CaHcades,  both  in  the  river  and  its  tribntaries, 
such  as  the  Willamette,  the  Cowbtz,  etc.  The  fishing  operations  on  the  Upper  Colum- 
bia, from  the  Cascades  to  the  mouth  of  the  Deschutes  Biver,  are  conducted  almost 
exclusively  witli  salmon  wheels,  which  are  turned  by  the  force  of  the  current.  These, 
when  properly  located  and  operated,  constitute  most  effective  engines  of  capture. 

A  careful  examination  of  the  charts  giving  the  uumbur  and  location  of  the 
(liilerent  fishing  apparatus  will  show  how  eflectually  the  salmon  are  embarrassed  or 
intercepted  in  their  attempts  to  reach  their  apawning-grounds.  It  is  not  a  matter  of 
wonder  that,  under  existing  conditions,  there  has  been  a  serious  deterioration  in  the 
value  of  these  fisheries.  It  is,  indeed,  a  matter  of  surprise  that  any  salmon  have 
been  able  to  elude  the  labyrinth  of  nets  which  bar  their  couise  to  the  Upper  Columbia. 
It  is  hardly  an  exaggeration  to  state  that  the  entire  volume  of  this  great  river  is 
strained  through  the  meshes  of  the  innnmerable  nets  wuich  occupy  and  obstruct 
every  passageway  to  the  spawning-grounds.  It  is  certain  that  the  continuation  of 
these  fisheries  under  present  conditions  will  eventually  result  in  rendering  them 
unremnnerative.  It  concerns  alike  the  whole  people  of  the  State,  as  well  as  those 
directly  interested  in  the  fisheries,  tliat  such  regulations  of  the  times,  methods,  and 
apparatus  of  these  fisheries  should  be  established  and  enforced  as  are  necessa  y  to 
maintain  supply. 


erned  in  the 
J  were  being 
y  in  natural 
certain  that 

is  doubtful, 
isate  for  the 

operation  of 


isorted  to  by 
number  and 

the  river  to 

haul  seines. 

Washington 

ver,  confined 

le  river,  from 

a  desirable 


THE  FISHINO  SEASON. 

It  is  a  wise  policy  on  the  part  of  the  State  to  encourage  the  largest  catch  that  can 
be  permitted  consistent  with  maintenance  of  supply;  to  impose  no  unnecessary  embar- 
rassments or  restrictions  upon  the  enterprise  of  the  fishermen,  yet  at  the  same  time 
to  insist  upon  such  protective  regulations  and  restraints  as  may  be  found  necessary 
to  prevent  the  serious  inipairment  of  an  important  industry  by  the  operations  of  the 
fishermen.  The  fishermen  themselves,  who  have  such  important  interests  at  stake 
and  the  security  and  profit  of  whose  large  investments  depend  upon  the  maintenance 
of  the  salmon  supply,  should  be  prompt  to  proirose  and  vigilant  to  enforce  such  regu- 
lations as  may  be  necessary  to  this  end.  The  nature  of  the  protective  regulations 
which  can  be  enforced  with  the  least  restraint  or  embarrassment  to  tlie  salmon  fisheries 
and  the  canning  industries  is  indicated  by  reference  to  the  following  table,  showing  by 
months  the  number  and  weight  of  each  species  of  salmon  taken  for  canning  on  the 
Columbia  Biver. 


the  river  to 
limits  of  the 
anuel,  in  the 
and  in  the 
perationB  are 


16 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA   RIVER    BASIN. 


TabU  fhovinf  by  monthi  the  number  and  weight  of  mcA  ipeciet  of  $almon  ^itiUzed  for  canning  ]>utj>otei 
on  th«  Columbia  liiver  in  1889,  1890,  1891,  and  1S9S. 


Tears  and  monthi. 

Chinook  salmon. 

Bluebaok  salmon. 

StPPlheail  salmon. 

Silver  salmon. 

Total. 

Vumbor 
of  Hull. 

Gross 
weiglit. 

Xunilwr 
or  tlali. 

Gross 
weight. 

Number 
of  flah. 

(trosa 
weight. 

Number 
of  dah. 

Gross 
weight. 

Number 
of  Usb. 

Gross 
weight. 

18e»— April 

89.266 
1.10.  117 
168,969 
301,  2:i4 

rounds. 
2. 231. 660 

3,0(I2.9-J5 
4,22:1,975 
7, 636, 350 

86,676 
70.517 
K.  453 
30,717 

Pound: 
183.380 

382.  585 
412,  205 
183,586 

8,408 

14, 709 
62,695 
76,166 

Pounds. 

94,080 

147, 1190 

626, 950 

761,600 

Pounds. 

136,860 
247. 343 
314,107 
414,  137 

Pound: 
2,608.110 
4,4^12,600 
8,  203, 190 
8,480  595 

Mav 

July 

Total 

1890-April 

Miv 

715,606 

17,893,900 

232,303 

1,161,816 

162,  978 

1,629,780 

1,110,937 

20,686,495 

32,727 
2;i6, 776 
252,  764 
887, 183 

13,941 

818, 176 
6,919.400 
6,  318.  8.10 
8,932,676 

348,  625 

63, 180 

niri  Ban 

11,006 
22.983 
87,507 
139,506 
15,636 

110,060 
220.  8:w 
878.070 
1,398,900 
185,350 

1(16.  912 
402,  339 
637. 566 
647,078 
81,883 

1,244.126 
7, 162, 130 
8,680.600 
11,080,030 
614,410 

202,580    1,012,900 

297.234    1,486,170 

150  299       751,495 

22,107  ;     110,836 

July 

Augaat 

Total 

1891— April 

893.381  i  22,337,626 

735,400   3,677,000 

276,686 

2,766,860 

1,908,467 

28,781,386 

82.413 
184,000 
223.  964 
308.  247 

68,870 

2,060.325 
4,  502  250 
6.  599.  100 
9, 91)6,  176 
1,466,750 

17,  437 
85,229 
83,743 
32,  389 
8,701 

87,186 
276. 146 
418.715 
161.945 

18,805 

8,178 
13,314 
62,676 
97.900 
21,  286 

81,780 
133,140 
626.700 
979.  OlIU 
21'i  ilriO 

1 

105.028 
232,633 
360.383 
628.536 
83,667 

2, 19:i.  290 
4,911,5.15 
6,844.575 
11,097,120 
1,698,115 

May 

July 

Auguat 

Total 

1892— April 

947,384 

23,684,600 

182,499 

nA!L4BK 

190,364  :I,003,64O 

1,330,237 

26,480,638 

65,021 
1H7,  492 
2.19.408 
343, 121 

84,124 

1.  375.  525 
4.  687.  300 
6,  98:,  450 
8,686.526 
2, 103, 100 

86.449 
308,946 
330.  558 
128,043 

10, 110 

432.  245 
1,M4.7:I0 
1,652,790 

640.215 
95,560 

10,  5(13 
32.796 
141,194 
109. 333 
52.091 
11,293 
22,629 

105.030 
827, 950 
1,411,940 
1, 983, 330 
629,010 
112.930 
226,290 

161,973 
820,233 
711,  2.50 
670.797 
168,226 
30,782 
66,696 

1,912,800 
6.680,980 
9,  052. 180 
11,219,070 
2,728,660 
249,383 
464,062 

May 

Juue 

Julv 

AugD.st  

19,489      130,423 
33, 966     237, 702 

October 

Total 

809,666 

22,738,900 

873, 106 

4,365,830 

470,738 

4,707,880 

63,488  1  374,185 

2,300,856 

82,180,986 

In  1889  the  flsliing  season  extended  from  tlie  1st  of  April  to  tbe  31st  of  July. 
The  total  catch  of  chinook  salmon  amounted  to  17,893,900  pounds,  87 J  per  cent  of 
this  amount  being  taken  in  May,  June,  and  July,  and  12^  per  cent  during  the  month 
of  April. 

In  1890  the  fishing  extended  from  April  10  to  August  10,  inclusive,  and  yielded  a 
total  product  of  22,337,525  pounds  of  chinook  salmon.  Of  this  amount,  94J  per  cent 
was  taken  in  May,  June,  and  July,  and  1^  per  cent  during  April  and  August. 

In  1891  the  fishing  season  extended  trom  April  10  to  August  10,  inclusive,  the 
total  product  of  chinook  salmon  being  23,584,600  pounds,  85  per  cent  of  which  was 
taken  in  May,  June,  and  July,  and  15  per  cent  in  April  and  August. 

In  1892  the  total  catch  of  chinook  salmon  amounted  to  22,738,900  pounds,  and  the 
fishing  season  extended  from  April  10  to  August  10,  and  during  September  and 
October;  85  per  cent  of  the  total  catch  was  made  in  the  months  of  May,  June,  and 
July;  15  per  cent  in  April  and  August;  none  in  September  or  October. 

It  will  be  evident  from  the  percentages  given  above,  and  by  reference  to  the  table, 
that  the  most  productive  fishing  operations  for  the  pound-net  and  fill-net  region  of 
the  river  are  during  the  months  of  May,  June,  and  July.  The  number  of  chinook  salmon 
taken  in  April  and  August  is  relatively  small,  and  under  conditions  not  so  profitable, 
either  to  the  canneries  or  the  fishermen,  as  those  carried  on  during  the  months  of  May, 
June,  and  July.  The  April  run  of  this  calmon,  if  allowed  to  pass  without  interruption 
to  the  headwaters  of  the  Columbia  and  its  tributaries,  would  spawn  iu  those  waters, 
and  the  present  productive  capacity  of  the  river  would  be  increased  to  such  an  extent 
as  to  much  more  than  compensate  for  the  restrictions  imposed  by  the  prohibition  of 
the  fishery  operations  during  the  month  of  April. 


IXVESTiaATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMHIA    KIVER   BASIN. 


17 


ming  purjmitt 


Total. 

icr 
h. 

Gross 
weight. 

960 

m 

107 
137 

PoundM. 
2,609.110 
4, 4:12. 600 
6,21)3,100 
8,480,605 

037 

20,685,406 

012 
130 
565 
078 
583 

1,244.126 
7, 1B2. 130 
8,680.690 
11,080,030 
614,410 

467     28,781,386 

028 
633 

636 
667 

3, 19:1. 200 
4,911,535 
6,644,575 
11,007,120 
1,608,116 

237 

073 
233 
'OO 
707 
225 
782 
506 

26,450,636 

1,012,800 
6.  550, 980 
0,062.180 
11,219,070 
2,728,660 
240,353 
464,063 

865 

82,18j,096 

let  of  July. 

per  cent  of 

g  the  month 

iid  yielded  a 
MJ  percent 

list. 

elusive,  the 
which  was 

Qds,  and  the 
tember  and 
Y,  June,  and 

to  the  table, 
let  region  of 
nook  aaliuon 
o  profitable, 
Qths  of  May, 
interruption 
hose  waters, 
jh  an  extent 
rohibition  of 


The  August  run  of  chiuook  salmon  consists  of  gravid  HhIi  near  their  spawning 

time.    The  Ihish  for  this  reason  has  undergone  deterioration,  and  if  canned  constitutes 

ill!  interior  product,  the  sale  of  which  will  discredit  the  reputation  which  thuCVduinbia 

Hiver  salmon  justly  hold  in  public  estimation.    None  of  the  August  run  of  chinooks 

probably  ascends  the  Columbia  above  tlie  Dalles.    They  spawn  in   the  tributary 

streams  of  the  Lower  Columbia  and  in  the  main  stream  between  the  Dalles  and  the 

mouth  of  the  river. 

RIX'OMMENUATIONS, 

Having  in  view  the  considerations  above  presented,  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  the 
necessity  of  restrictive  regulations  to  maintain  the  salmon  fisheries  of  the  Columbia 
River.  The  enactment  and  enforcement  of  such  regulations  as  may  be  necessary 
to  this  end  is  the  prerogative  of  the  States  occujiying  the  Oolunibia  Biver  basin. 
There  is  no  prec-edent  for  the  exercise  by  the  General  Government  of  control  over 
the  fisheries  of  our  interior  waters,  except  in  so  far  as  the  forms  of  apparatus  in  use 
might  be  regarded  as  obstructions  or  impediments  to  navigation. 

Whether  the  power  to  regulate  the  fisheries  of  interstate  and  bounding  territo- 
rial waters  is  vested  in  the  General  Government  or  in  the  States  is  a  subject  which 
has  provoked,  and  will  continue  to  provoke,  controversy  until  the  respective  rights 
and  powers  of  individual  States  and  the  General  Government  are  duly  ascertained  and 
defined  by  the  courts  of  last  resort.  Having  reference,  however,  to  the  interests  of  the 
fisheries,  there  is  no  doubt  that  these  interests  would  be  best  subserved  by  uniform 
and  concurrent  regulations  covering  the  entire  region  in  which  any  special  fishery  is 
prosecuted. 

In  the  case  of  the  Columbia,  we  find  that  the  great  market  fisheries  for  the  salmon 
are  prosecuted  in  the  lower  river,  and  tlie  immediate  evident  advantage  is  to  those 
who  are  engaged  in  the  capture  of  the  salmon  or  in  canning  them  for  the  market. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  i.urseries  for  the  young  salmon,  upon  the  abundance  of  wl" 
depend  the  productiveness  and  profit  of  the  fisheries  in  the  lower  river,  are  in  the 
remote  tributaries  and  sources  of  the  river  in  Washington,  Oregon,  and  Idaho. 

Regulations  and  restrictions  of  the  net  fisheries,  so  as  to  permit  a  reasonable 
number  of  salmon  to  reach  their  spawning-ground  in  the  upper  rivers,  and  protection 
of  the  salmon  in  these  waters  during  their  spawning  season,  in  September  and  October, 
present  the  conditions  to  be  fulfilled  to  keep  up  supply,  so  far  as  this  can  be  accom- 
plished by  legal  restraints. 

To  ettectively  restrain  or  regulate  the  net  fisheries  requires  the  concurrent  action 
of  the  States  of  Washington  and  Oregon.  Effective  protection  to  the  salmon  on  their 
spawning-grounds  can  be  established  only  by  concurrent  action  on  the  part  of  Wash- 
ington, Oregon,  and  Idaho  establishing  a  close  season  during  the  months  of  September 
and  October.  Here  a  serious  difidculty  arises.  On  the  one  hand  it  will  be  urged  by 
the  net  fishermen  of  Washington  and  Oregon  that  any  restraint  on  their  operations 
will  be  burdensome  to  them  without  any  corresponding  advantage,  since  the  fish  they 
permit  to  escape  their  nets  will  be  taken  in  the  head  waters  to  which  they  go  before 
they  have  had  an  opportunity  to  spawn,  and  so  they  will  be  subject  to  serious  losses 
and  inconvenience  without  any  compensating  advantage.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
citizens  of  eastern  Washington  and  Oregon  and  of  remote  Idaho  will  be  reluctant  to 
impose  any  restraints  on  their  own  people  in  reference  to  the  taking  of  salmon,  for  the 
reason  that  any  increase  in  the  fishery  arising  thereby  will  inure  solely  to  the  benefit 
of  the  fishermen  between  the  Dalles  and  the  mouth  of  the  river. 
S.  Mis.  200 2 


18 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA    RIVER    BASIN. 


The  necesflity  of  concurrent  action  on  the  part  of  the  States  occupying  the  Colum- 
bia Ri^'e^  Basin,  and  of  their  cordial  cooperation  in  incasurea  neco88ary  to  maintain 
the  sahnon  tlshery  of  the  Columbia  River  and  to  improve  it,  is  evident  from  a  con- 
Hideration  of  the  facts  presented.  The  investigations  of  the  U.  H.  Fish  Commission  in 
the  Columbia  River  Basin  made  under  the  instructions  of  Congress  dearly  indicate 
that  there  is  a  serious  deterioration  in  the  product  and  value  of  the  salmon  tishuries 
of  this  river;  that  this  deterioration  is  to  bo  attributed  in  large  part,  if  not  entirely,  t«> 
the  exclusion  of  the  salmon  from  their  spawning-grounds  by  the  operations  of  the  net 
fishermen,  and  that  artificial  propagation  on  an  adequate  scale  to  compensate  for  the 
waste  of  the  fisheries  is  no  longer  possible  under  existing  conditions  of  the  fisheries. 

The  initial  step  in  attempting  the  restoration  of  the  salmon  fishery  is  to  restrict 
and  regulate  the  net  fishing.  The  restriction  that  may  be  put  in  force  with  the  least 
hardship  to  the  fishermen  is  the  shortening  of  the  season  of  n<)t  fishing. 

The  use  of  pounds,  gill  nets,  traps,  and  seines  in  the  lower  river,  from  the  Cascades 
to  the  mouth,  should  be  limited  strictly  to  the  months  of  May,  June,  and  July.  The 
wheels  should  not  be  permitted  to  take  salmtm  prior  to  the  middle  of  May,  so  as  to 
permit  the  salmon  which  have  entered  the  river  in  April  the  opportunity  to  pass  up 
to  the  head  waters.  A  further  closed  season  for  wheels  should  be  established  from 
the  1st  of  August  to  the  lUth  of  September,  so  as  to  provide  for  the  uninterrupted 
spawning  of  the  August  run  of  salmon.  There  does  not  at  present  appear  sufiicient 
reason  to  prohibit  the  wheel  fishing  during  the  balauoe  of  Septomber  and  during  the 
month  of  October.  Protection  for  the  salmon  which  have  thus  been  enabled  to  reach 
their  spawning-grounds  should  be  aflorded  by  a  close  season  during  the  months  of 
September  and  October,  covering  the  streams  in  Washington,  Oregon,  and  Idaho  to 
which  the  salmon  resort  for  breeding. 

Should  the  policy  above  outlined  be  adopted  by  these  States  and  the  requisite 
measures  to  carry  it  into  effect  be  enacted  and  enforced,  it  will  be  possible  for  the  U.  S. 
Fish  Commission  and  the  State  commissions  to  greatly  enlarge  their  fish-cultural 
operations,  and  to  prosecute  them  under  much  more  satisfactory  and  economical  con- 
ditions than  at  the  present  time.  Until  the  States  interested  adopt  measures  to 
restrain  net  fishing,  so  as  to  permit  a  portion  at  least  of  the  salmon  entering  the  river 
to  pass  up  to  their  spawning-grounds,  it  is  not  deemed  wise  or  expedient  to  attempt 
to  increase  or  extend  the  work  of  artificial  propagation  of  the  salmon. 

All  efforts  will  be  disappointing,  unprofitable,  and  nugatory  so  long  as  the  fisheries 
continue  under  existing  conditions,  and  I  would  recommend,  therefore,  that  no  farther 
steps  be  taken  at  present  looking  to  the  establishment  of  additional  salmon-breeding 
stations  in  the  Columbia  River  Basin. 

Marshall  McDonald, 
17.  8.  CommUtioner  <(f  Msh  and  JV«A«r(<«. 


^  the  Oolnm- 
'  to  maintain 
;  from  a  con- 
imuHHsion  in 
arly  indicate 
lion  fiHliurieH 
)t  entirely,  t<) 
nt*  of  the  net 
iisate  for  the 
lie  tlsheries. 
is  to  rcHtrict 
rith  the  least 

the  Cascades 
i  July.  The 
Vlay,  so  as  to 
y  to  pass  up 
iblished  from 
ninterrupted 
ear  sufficient 
d  during  the 
bled  to  reach 
he  months  of 
and  Idaho  to 

the  requisite 
s  for  the  U.S. 
fish-uultaral 
nomical  con- 
measures  to 
ng  the  river 
to  attempt 

the  fisheries 
at  no  father 
ion-breeding 

'■  FigKerte$, 


Pi  *te  II 


A 


imTTiission  of  FisJ 
nUJVFDonald.C. 

CHARTOF 

:OLUM 

NGTHE  LOC, 
iSAND  SaLA 

OPERATED 

1892. 

Scale  or  StAtate  '. 

NOTE 
Fishinff  fVfteels.. 


luverie-s 


o 


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SMis  S.CO    53  2 


Salmon  Fisheries  of  the  Columbia  River.     (To  face  page  18. j 


/■^-  /\-  C 


M 


[ 


\ 


U.S.  Commission  of  Fish  and  FisTi 
Marshall  M^  Donald,  C  omi  iii  s  s  i  < 

CHARTOFTHE 

UPPE  R  COLUMBIA] 

SHOWINGTHE  LOCATION  ( 

PishAA^heelsaistd  Salmon  O 

OPERATEID  IN 

^  1892. 

Scale  or  Sta.tate  Miles. 


w 


NOTE 
Pet-rnxuven.t  fishing  Wlijcel-s . 
iS'covxr             i    "                "         . 
jScitrriort  CciAttverl'ds 


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MarshaHM^Dori 


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ANDCA 


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Scale  of 


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non  Fisheries  ot  the  Columbia  River.     (To  face  pace  18  1 


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rshall  M<?  Donald  ,CoinTms  si  oner. 


CHART  OF  THE 

I  COLUMBIA  RIVER 

^NG  THE  LOCATION  OF 

PARATUS.  FT  SHING  GROUNDS 
AND  CANNERIES 

IN 

1892 

S  cale  of  statute  Miles. 


Scale  of  Naxit-ical  Miles  , 

T  '  W 


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A  REPORT  UPON  INVESTIGATIONS  IN  THE  COLUMBIA  RIVER  BASIN.  WITH 
DESCRIFi'IONS  OF  FOUR  NEW  SPECIES  OF  FISHES 


BT 
CHARLES  H.  GILBERT,  Professor  of  Zoology,  Liland  Stanford  Junior  UniverHty^ 

AMD 

BARTON  W.  EVERMANN,  Ichlhyohgist  of  tht  U.  S.  Fish  Commission, 


INTRODUCTION. 

The  investigations  upon  which  this  report  is  primarily  based  were  provided  for 
by  two  items  in  the  sundry  civil  bill,  approved  August  6,  1892.  The  first  of  these 
items  authorized  the  expenditure,  from  the  appropriation  for  inquiry  respecting  food- 
fishes,  of  the  sum  of  $2,000,  or  so  much  thereof  as  may  be  nectasary,  "  in  examining 
the  Clarke's  Fork  of  the  Columbia  Biver,  with  the  view  to  ascertain  the  obstructions 
which  prevent  the  ascent  of  salmon  in  said  river  to  the  Flathead  Lake  and  adjacent 
waters."  The  second  item  provided* "for  investigation  and  report  respecting  the 
advisability  of  establishing  a  hatching  station  at  some  suitable  point  in  the  State  of 
Washington,  $1,000,  or  so  much  thereof  as  may  be  necessary." 

The  purposes  of  these  two  investigations  were  very  intimately  related.  Any 
inquiry  regarding  obstructions  which  might  interfere  with  the  movements  of  salmon 
in  any  of  the  tributaries  of  the  Columbia  would  have  a  bearing  upon  the  advisa- 
bility of  establishing  a  salmon-hatchery  at  any  point  in  that  river  basin.  These  two 
inquiries  were  therefore  conducted  as  one,  and  the  results  are  presented  in  a  single 
report. 

This  work  was  begun  in  September,  1892,  by  Dr.  Charles  E.  Oorham,  engineer 
and  architect  of  the  Commigsion,  assisted  by  Mr.  Barton  A.  Bean,  of  the  U.  S. 
l^atioual  Museum,  and  Mr.  A.  J.  Woolman,  teacher  of  science  in  the  high  school  at 
South  Bend,  Ind.  Dr.  Gorham  died  before  the  completion  of  the  investigation,  and 
Prof,  Evennann  was  instructed  by  the  Commissioner  to  continue  the  work  during  the 
summer  of  1893.  While  carrying  on  these  investigations  he  had  the  assistance  of  Drs. 
Chaiies  H.  Gilbert,  Oliver  P.  Jenkins,  and  W.  W.  Thoburn,  and  Mr.  Cloud.  Rutter,  all 
of  Le.land  Stanford  Junior  University.  The  work  was  taken  up  by  us  at  Pocatello, 
Idaho,  August  2,  it  having  been  determined  to  include  an  examination  of  the  obstruc- 
tions  in  Snake  River  and  a  preliminary  study  of  the  natural-history  features  of  the 
upper  waters  of  the  Columbia  basin,  with  special  reference  to  the  present  or  former 
occurrence  of  salmon  in  those  streams. 


20 


INVKSTIOATIONH   IN    THK    COLUMBIA    RIVEK    HAHIN. 


To  expedite  mattfirs  as  iniKih  as  possible  in  the  liinit»!cl  time  which  could  be  given 
to  the  work,  the  force  was  divided  into  two  parties  at  I'ocatclio.  Oilbert,  Tliobum, 
and  Uutter  were  instrncitcd  to  go  down  Snake  liiver,  exanune  the  various  falls  in  that 
stream,  make  investigatituis  as  to  the  ])hysical  and  natural  history  charai  tcristics  ot 
as  many  of  the  tributary  streams  as  possible,  and  then  carry  on  similar  inquiries  along 
the  Coliunbia  from  Idaho  to  the  Lower  Cobunbia.  Kvermann  and  Jenkins  went  uji 
tiie  Snake  Kiver  to  Idaho  Falls,  where  the  rapids  were  examined,  and  then  proceeded 
t<)  Sand  Point,  Idaho,  where  was  begun  tiie  examination  of  Clarke  Fork  or  the  Pend 
d'Oreille  River,  the  latter  being  the  name  by  which  this  river  is  generally  known  in 
that  region.  The  Pend  d'Oreille  River  was  examined  throughout  the  entire  distance 
from  Sand  Point  to  within  a  few  miles  of  the  international  boundary  line.  The  two 
parties  came  together  at  Spokane.  From  this  point  Evermaun  returned  east,  and  the 
work  was  continued  by  Gilbert,  Jenkins,  Thoburu,  and  Rutter. 

Investigations  were  made  at  various  points  in  the  Lower  Oolumbia  basin,  chiefly 
for  the  purpose  of  selecting  a  site  for  a  salmou  hatchery  and  fur  gaining  information 
respecting  the  occurrence  and  abundance  of  salmon  in  the  various  streams  tributary 
to  the  Lower  Columbia. 

While  carrying  on  the  investigations  regarding  the  obstructions  to  the  free  move- 
ment of  salmon  in  these  rivers  and  the  selection  of  a  salmon-hatcliery  site,  considerable 
opportunities  occurred  for  a  study  of  the  natural  history  of  the  salmon  and  the  general 
natural-history  features  of  the  waters  of  the  Columbia  basin.  Considerable  valuable 
information  was  obtained  regarding  the  former  as  well  as  the  present  distribution  of 
salmon  in  this  region. 

Large  collections  of  fishes  were  made  at  the  various  places  where  collecting  wa*j 
possible,  and  their  study  has  greatly  increased  our  knowledge  of  the  variations  in 
and  the  geographic  distribution  of  the  fresh-water  fishes  of  the  northwestern  United 
States. 

In  this  report  we  give  (1)  detailed  descriploi;'-  of  the  various  streams  visited  by 
the  diflerent  members  of  the  party;  (2)  a  list  v.l'  the  species  of  fishes  obtained  in  the 
Columbia  River  basin,  together  with  a  discussion  of  their  relatiouships  and  distribu- 
tion; (3)  notes  on  the  breeding  colors  of  i:h*i  '.hiteflsh  (Goregonus  williamsoni),  by 
Barton  A.  Bean;  and  (4)  an  annotated  list  uf  bhe  reptiles  and  batrachiaus  obtained. 

The  time  which  has  been  given  to  the  study  of  the  various  problems  pertaining 
to  the  salmon  question  has  been  wholly  inadequate  to  a  satisfactory  understanding  of 
the  matter,  and  any  views  which  we  venture  to  give  in  this  paper  must  be  regarded 
as  tentative.  An  exhaustive  study  of  the  natural  history  of  the  various  species  of 
salmon  and  trout  of  the  Columbia  has  never  been  made.  The  investigations  now  in 
progress  will,  it  is  confidently  expected,  lead  to  a  much  better  understanding  of  the 
questions  involved. 


INVE8TIOATION8   IN   THE   COLUMlilA    KIVUH    BAHIN. 


21 


LIST  OP  STREAMS  EXAMINED. 

The  following  is  a  claftsificd  list  of  the  atrcams  examiued,  together  with  the  dates 
upon  which  the  various  places  were  visited: 

SMakt  liher:    Presidect  Camp,  Wyoming,  Angast  14,  1H91  (Everninnn  and  Jeukins);  Idaho  Falls, 

AnguHt  4  and  6  (Evermiinn   and  Jenkins);  American  Falls,  Anifiigt  5  ((jilbert);  hhnsliune 

Falls,  Angnst  6  (Uilbprt);  Twin   Falls,  Angnst  6  (Ciilbert);  Aiij,"!'  Falls,  AngnHt  7  (Gilbert); 

Bine  Lakes,  August  7  (Clilbort);  Upper  and  Lower  Sulniou  Fulls,  August  7  ((iiibert);  Mouib 

of  BoisH  River,  Caldwell,  Idaho,  August  8  (Gilbert,  'lUoburn,  and  Kutter);  Payette,  Idaho, 

August  10,  and  Lewiston,  Idaho,  August  15  (Gilbert,  Thobnrn,  and  Rutter), 
Ross  Forli  of  Snake  River,  near  Pooatello,  Idaho,  August  4  (party). 
Port  Ncuf  River,  Pocntello,  August  2  (Kvemianii  and  Ratter)  and  August  3  (party), 
Uiiik  Creek  near  I'oeatello,  Ani,-.jt3  (party). 
Little  Wootl  River  near  Shoshone,  August  6  (Thobnrn  and  Ratter). 
Boise  River  near  Caldwell,  August  8  (Gilbert,  Thobnrn,  and  Rutter). 
Payette  River  at  Payette,  August  9  (Gilbert,  Thobnrn,  and  Rutter). 
Clearwater  River  near  Lewiston,  August  15  and  16  (Gilbert,  Thoburn,  and  Rutter). 
Pollatch  Creek  near  Lewiston,  August  16  (Gilbert,  Thoburn,  and  Rutter). 
Palouse  River  near  Colfax,  Washington,  August  17  (Gilbert,  Thoburii,  and  Rutter). 
Grande  Ronde  River  near  La  Grande,  August  11  (Thobnru). 
Pataha  River  at  Starbuck,  August  14  (Gilbert,  Thoburn,  and  Rutter). 
Peni  d'Oreill«  Hiver:  Throughout  the  entire  distance  from  Albany  Falls,  Idaho,  to  Big  Eddy  CaJlcn, 

near  the  international  boundary  line,  August  9  to  16  (Kvermann  and  .lenkius),  and  from  its 

mouth  to  the  international  boundary,  September  23  to  26,  1892  ((iorhnm  and  Bean). 
Deer  Lodge,  Little  Blackfoot,  Big  Blackfoot,  Hell  Gate,  Bitter  Root,  Missoula,  and  Flathead  rivers, 

together  with  many  of  their  tributary  streams,  July  and  August,  1891  (Evermaun  and  Jenkins). 
Flathead  Lake,  August  1  to  4,  1891  (Evermaun  and  Jenkins),  and  September,  1892  (Gorham  and 

Woolman). 
Thompson  Falls,  September,  1892  (Gorham,  Bean,  and  Woolman). 
Lake  Pend  d'  Oreille  at  Sand  Point,  Idaho,  August  7  (Evermann  and  .Jenkins). 
Upper  Columbia  Siver:  Kettle  Falls,  August  16  (Evcrmunu  and  Jenkins),  and  at  the  mouth  of  Pend 

d'Oreille  River,  September  23, 1892  (Gorham  and  Bean). 
Colville  River  from  Meyers  Falls  to  its  month,  August  16  (Evermann  and  Jenkins). 
Spokane  River  in  the  vicinity  of  Spokane,  September,  1892  (Gorham  and  Bean),  and  August  18 

to  21  (Evermann  and  Jenkins). 
Little  Spokane  River  below  Dart's  Mill..  September,  1892  (Bean),  and  near  Dart's  Mill,  August  18 

(Evermann  and  Jenkins). 
CoBUT  d'Aleue  River  at  Wardner,  August  19,  and  Coenr  d'AIene  Lake  at  Coenr  d'Alene,  August  21 

(Gilbert,  Thoburn,  and  Rutter). 
Hangman  Creek  near  Spokane,  September,  1892  (Bean),  and   at  Tekoa,  August  18  (Gilbert, 

Thoburn,  and  Rutter). 
Lower  Columbia  River:  Pasco,  Wallola,  Umatilla,  Dalles,  Portland,  and  Astoria,  August  11  to  27  (Butter 

and  Thoburn). 
Watla  Walla  River  near  Wallola,  August  23  (Thoburn  and  Ratter). 
Mill  Creek  near  Walla  Walla,  August  14  (Thoburn  and  Rutter). 
Umatilla  River  near  Pendleton,   Oregon,  August  12  (Gilbert,  Thobnrn,   and  Rutter),  and  at 

Umatilla,  August  Hand  23  (Thobnrn  and  Rutter). 
Des  Chutes  River  at  its  month,  August  24  (Ratter), 

Yakima  River  near  North  Yakima  and  Ellensbarg,  Angnst  23  and  24  (Jenkioa). 
NatcheM  River  near  North  Yakima,  August  24  (Gilbert  and  Jenkins). 
Cowlitz  and  Toutle  rivers  near  Castle  Book,  August  28  and  29  (Gilbert  and  Jenkiju). 
Newaaknm  Biver  near  Chehalis,  August  28  (Gilbert  and  Jenkins). 
Skooknmchuck  Biver  near  Centralia,  Angust  27  (Gilbert  and  Jenkins). 

Lake  Washington  at  Seattle,  June  25,  1892  (Evermann).  ' 

Snoqaalmia  Sir«r  •(  Bno^okimia  Falls,  Jon*  28  and  37, 1888  (Erarouum). 


i.\ 


22 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN    THE    COLUMUIA    KIVER   BASIN. 


INVESTIGATIONS  WITH    REFERENCE   TO    THE   SELECTION   OF  A   SITE   FOR   A 
SALMON  HATCHERY  IN  THE  STATE  OF  WASHINGTON. 

Every  stream  and  every  point  visited  was  considered  with  regard  to  its  fitness 
for  salmon-hatching  purposes.  Tlie  majority  of  the  places  are,  however,  not  suited 
at  all  to  such  ends,  and  only  such  locations  as  seem  to  possess  most  or  all  the  required 
l)hysical  and  biological  conditions  need  be  treated  in  detail  in  this  report. 

LOWEE  COLUMBIA. 

There  are  several  reasons  why  a  salmon  hatchery  wonld  be  better  located  on  some 
tributary  of  the  Lower  Columbia  rather  than  the  Upper  Columbia  or  the  Snake.  The 
supply  of  salmon  would  be  more  certain  and  the  condition  of  the  salmon  better.  So 
far  as  is  known  to  us,  salmon  which  enter  the  Columbia  in  the  spring  pass  by  the 
mouths  of  the  lower  tributaries  and  press  on  higher  up  the  stream.  It  is  probably 
these  fish  which  arrive  in  the  Upper  Snake  in  the  vicinity  of  Glen's  Ferry  and  Salmon 
Falls  in  the  latter  part  of  August  and  in  September.  All  observers  on  the  Upper 
Snake  agree  that  they  arrive  at  this  time  and  spawn  from  September  1  on  to  October 
or  November.  The  fish  of  the  fall  run  enter  the  Columbia  a  short  time  only  before 
they  are  ready  to  spawn.  So  far  as  we  now  know,  the  most  of  these  turn  directly  into 
streams  near  the  mouth  of  the  river  and  spawn  a  short  time  after  their  entrance  into 
the  Columbia. 

A  second  point  in  favor  of  such  a  location  for  a  hatchery  would  be,  perhaps,  that 
the  young  fish  when  turned  into  the  stream  would  stand  a  better  chance  of  reaching 
saltwater  than  they  would  if  they  had  the  whole  course  of  the  river  to  traverse,  during 
which  time  they  are  exposed  to  the  attacks  of  all  their  fresh- water  enemies. 

A  third  point  in  favor  of  such  a  locPition  is  the  accessibility  of  various  points  in 
Washington  along  the  lower  course  of  the  Columbia. 

Two  streams  were  selected  for  examination,  the  Yakima  Eiver  and  the  Cowlitz. 
Both  of  these  rise  in  the  high  mountain  region  of  southwestern  Washington,  and 
receive  their  waters  largely  from  the  snows  of  Mount  Ranier,  Mount  Adams,  and 
Mount  St.  Jelen.  They  run  through  regions  very  different  in  their  physical  charac- 
teristics and  in  their  climate.  The  Yakima  lies  to  the  east  of  the  Cascade  range  and 
runs  down  through  a  dry  valley  covered  with  sagebrush  and  devoid  of  trees,  except 
along  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  stream  itself.  The  summer  season  is  very  hot  and 
the  winter  correspondingly  cold.  Bo  far  as  the  character  of  the  stream  itself  is  con- 
cerned, it  seems  admirably  ad.ipted  for  a  hatchery.  At  North  Yakima  the  stream  is 
perfectly  clear,  flosvs  rapidly  in  an  open  valley  over  gravel  and  sand,  and  had  a  tem- 
perature of  64'^  August  23.  It  receives  an  important  tributary,  the  Natchess,  1 
mile  above  the  town.  At  its  mouth  this  stream  is  about  75  feet  wide  with  an  average 
depth  of  2  feet,  and  with  a  current  of  IJ  feet  per  second.  The  temperature  '^  as  57i<-' 
at  9:30  a.  m.  Were  other  conditions  lavorable,  no  better  stream  could  be  ff  and  for  a 
hatchery  than  the  Natchess. 

While  salmon  nsed  to  ascend  the  Yakima  and  its  tributaries  in  large  numbers, 
they  have  greatly  fallen  off  of  late  years.  It  is  now  very  doubtful  whether  a  hatchery 
located  at  any  point  on  this  stream  could  depend  for  spawn  ou  the  fish  which  ascttud 


Salmon  Fisheries  ni  the  Co  umb-a  R'ver      (To  face  page  ;2  ) 


Plate  IV. 


FOR   A 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THK   COLUMBIA    RIVER   BASIN. 


23 


the  stream  itself.  If  it  were  considered  desirable  to  ship  spawn  to  such  a  hatchery, 
the  Natchess  might  be  favorably  cousidered. 

Ill  cousidering  the  possibility  of  establishing  a  hatchery  on  the  Yakima  or  its 
tributaries,  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  stream  Hows  through  a  wide  valley, 
only  partially  under  cultivation.  Extensive  canals  are  now  being  constructed  with  a 
view  to  irrigating  the  entire  valley.  IJecent  litigation  seems  to  show  that  more  water 
has  been  claimed  on  behalf  of  these  c<;'iala  than  the  stream  will  be  able  to  furnish. 
It  seems  probable,  therefore,  that  the  entiit,  «upi)ly  will  be  withdrawn  from  the  river 
daring  the  summer  and  fall. 

Toutle  River. — The  Toutle  River  is  a  tributary  of  the  Cowlitz.  Near  its  mouth, 
near  Oastle  Rock,  an  excellent  site  for  a  salmon  hatchery  can  be  found.  This  is  a 
beautiful,  clear,  and  coid  stream,  furnishing  an  abundance  of  water,  which  is  never 
likely  to  be  required  for  other  purposes.  The  tempei  ature  of  the  water  at  11  a.  m. 
August  27  was  69,5°.  The  Toutle  is  a  natural  spawning-ground  for  the  salmon,  which 
still  come  into  it  in  large  numbers.  They  could  be  taken  in  the  deeper  pools  in  gill 
nets,  and  the  character  of  the  stream  is  such  as  to  permit  seining.  The  time  at  our 
disposal  could  not  permit  us  to  make  a  very  thorough  investigation  of  this  stream  and 
entirely  prevented  our  visiting  the  Upper  Cowlitz.  From  what  we  saw,  l>owever,  wo 
are  inclined  to  recommend  the  Toutle  River  aa  being  the  best  suited  .or  hatchery 
purposes  of  any  stream  in  Washington. 


THE   UPPER  COLUMBIA. 

Near  Kettle  Falls,  Wash. — The  Colville  River  flows  into  the  Columbia  at  the  town 
of  Ket  M  Falls,  about  2  miles  below  the  Kettle  Falls  of  the  Columbia.  An  abundance 
of  e^  .•«  il  :ht  water  can  be  obtained  ♦rom  the  Colville  River,  and  plenty  of  suitable  land 
'.'fi  ■  j,ro^.''>ly  be  had  for  nothing,  as  ihe  people  there  are  much  interested  in  securing 
:h  ■ .  1  ;v!iy.  This  site  is  about  2  miles  from  Meyers  Falls,  a  station  on  the  Spokane 
. m;  ■>  ;  iru  Railroad.  The  only  objection  to  it  is  the  uncertainty  of  getting  a  "vifti- 
cient    r  .Lb::*  of  spawning  salmon  conveniently  near. 

As  .  !f  ly  stated,  salmon  were  abundant  in  the  Columbia  at  Kettle  Falls  as  late 
as  1878.  Since  then  there  has  been  a  great  decrease.  They  have  been  scarce  since  about 
18S2;  since  1890  there  have  been  scarcely  any  at  Kettle  Fa'ls.  The  Meyers  brcther« 
say  they  have  been  almost  unable  lo  bu>  any  salmon  for  their  own  table  from  the 
Indians  for  three  years.  Certain  Indians  with  whom  we  talked  at  Kettle  Falls  said 
salmou  were  once  very  abundant  there,  but  thai  TC'-y  few  are  seen  now.  Other 
persons  testified  to  the  same  effect.  Essentially  the  same  information  was  obtained 
regarding  the  decrease  of  salmou  in  other  parts  of  the  upper  tributaries  of  the 
Columbia,  viz,  at  Spokane,  in  both  the  Big  and  Little  Spokane  rivers,  and  in  the 
s- 1  like  River  and  its  various  tributaries. 

^  !  *h:  Little  Spokane  River,  near  Spokane,  Wash. — This  river,  as  elsewhere  stated 
'>.  i^LMS  I'uptirt,  possesses  all  the  natural  conditions  necessary  for  this  purpose;  and 
it  has  the  advantage  of  having  excellent  shipping  facilities  in  the  numerous  railroads 
centering  at  Spokane.  The  uncertainty  of  being  able  to  obtain  spawning  salmon  in 
sufficient  numbers  is,  however,  a  fatal  objection  to  this  point,  unless  shipping  the 
eggs  &om  the  Lower  Oolumbia  might  be  regai'ded  as  feasible. 


u 


tNVE8TIGATI0NS   IN   THE    COLUMBIA    RIVEK    BAStN. 


SNAKE   BIVEE  IN  SOUTHWESTEKN   IDAHO. 

If  the  station  does  not  necessarily  have  to  be  in  Wasliinpton,  a  very  good  site  can 
be  found  on  Snake  Itiver  in  Idaho  near  Sabnon  Falls,  ^filuion  seem  still  to  ascend  to 
tliat  point  ia  considerable  numbers.  For  detailed  description  of  this  place  see  portion 
of  this  report  pertiviuing  to  "le  Snake  lliver. 

*«UMMARY. 

In  summing  up  the  facts  b.  .t  out  by  these  investigations  it  may  be  aaid, 
first,  that  the  absence  of  salmon  from  tlie  Tend  d'Oreille  River  is  not  necessarilv  due 
to  the  presence  of  falls  in  that  stream,  but  to  other  causes,  chief  among  which  is  the 
excessive  catching  of  salmon  in  the  Lower  Columbia;  second,  that  while  it  is  true 
tliat  the  salmon  are  shut  out  by  falls  and  dams  from  a  large  area,  especially  in  the 
Upper  Snake  Kiver  basin,  and  that  these  limitations  are  increasing  as  the  streams 
become  useful  for  irrigation  and  mining  purposes,  it  is  nevertheless  certain  that  the 
decrease  in  the  salmon  has  been  even  greater  and  that  the  accessible  waters  suitable 
ior  spawning  purposes  are  still  more  than  ample  to  meet  present  needs;  and,  third, 
tliat  the  desirability  of  establishing  another  salmon  hatchery  at  some  point  in  the 
(.'olumbia  basin  will  depend  largely  upon  the  nature  of  the  fishery  legislation  in  the 
States  of  Washington,  Oregon,  and  Idaho. 

It  must  be  understood,  however,  tliat  our  knowledge  regarding  the  present  abun- 
dance of  salmon,  their  relative  abundance  as  compared  with  former  years,  and  the 
location  and  extent  of  their  sp^-wninggrounds,  is  of  the  most  general  kind.  While 
valuable  so  far  as  it  goes,  the  information  which  we  now  possess  upon  these  important 
questions  is  chiefly  useful  in  indicating  the  nature  of  the  investigations  which  must 
be  carried  on  for  several  seasons  before  a  thorough  understanding  of  the  salmon  ques- 
tion can  be  reached. 


DETAILED  ACCOUNT  OP  THE  VARIOUS  WATERS  EXAMINED. 

SNAKE  luvaa. 

This  river  has  been  visited  by  as  at  the  followiug  points:  President  Camp,  near  the  sontheru 
boandary  of  the  Yellowstone  Park;  Idaho  Falls;  Amorioan  Falls;  Shoshone  Falls  j  Twin  Falls;  AugBr 
Falls;  Blue  Lakes;  Upper  and  Iiower  Salmon  Falls;  at  mouth  of  Boise  River;  at  Caldwull,  Payette, 
und  Lewiston.  The  observatiuus  mitde  at  these  various  places  are  here  given  in  order,  beginning 
with  the  point  farthest  upstream  which  was  visited. 

President  Camp, — Snake  River  here  flows  through  a  wide  meadow,  grassy  and  open  on  the  right  side, 
but  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  ohapparal  on  the  other.  It  is  hero  a  buautiful  river  willi  clear, 
ould  water  and  gravelly  bottom.  The  banks  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  camp  are  low,  not 
exceeding  3  or  4  feet.  lu  the  main  stream  the  onrreut  was  pretty  strong,  but  there  are  quiet  nooks 
und  coves  where  there  was  considerable  water  ve^otatiou.  The  temperature  of  the  water  at  9  a.  ni., 
August  14,  was  62.5°.  Fishes  were  found  to  be  abundant  here,  the  red-horse  sucker  {Catoitomui 
ardent),  dnoe  {Rhiniohtkys  oataraeta  duloit),  chubs  (Eieuciseiu  hydi-ophlox  and  Leuoiaoui  lineatui),  white- 
flsh  {Coregonvt  tvil Ham >oni),  ont-throiit  trout  (Salmo  mykist),  and  the  blob  {Cottui  bairdi  pvnciulatuii'} 
being  the  species  thus  far  known  f^om  the  Snake  River  at  that  point.* 

Idaho  Falli,  Idilw,  Augutt  4  and  5, 1S03. — At  this  point  vho  river  has  oat  its  channel  throngh  the 
immense  lava  bed  of  that  region.  Thj  banks  of  thostreaiii  are  abrupt  or  vertical  but  broken  and 
jagged  Walls  of  lava,  reaching  in  some  places  as  many  as  15  to  20  feet  or  more  above  the  surface  of  the 
water.  Large,  detached  masses  of  Inva  are  frequent  in  the  stream,  and  in  the  banks  or  bounding  walls 
are  many  immense  potholus,  by  far  the  largnst  and  tinest  wo  have  ever  seen.  The  river  is  here  con- 
fined to  a  relatively  narrow  channel,  through  which  it  rushes  in  a  series  of  foaming  rapids.    'I'bera 


o 
m 


o 

c 


*  See  Kveiuuum:  £xplo»tiona  In  Montana  and  Wyoming,  Bull.  U.  S.  Fish  Comm.  for  1881,  33. 


Salmon  Fisheries  of  the  Columbia  River      (To  face  page  24  i 


Plate  V. 


nl 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA   MVEB   BASIN. 


25 


are  many  comparatively  qiiiot  nooks,  however,  in  the  broken,  irregular  walla,  aud  the  water  is  very 
deep,  perhaps  20  to  50  feet.  While  these  rapids  are  quite  turbulent,  trout  and  even  other  specio.H  of 
Qahes  have  no  trouble  iu  aicending  them.  Trout  (<SaImo  m^Jtfia)  are  oomn.un  here,  and  in  a  large 
line  which  has  been  out  through  the  lava  for  milling  purposes  we  obtained  many  specimeuH  of  dace, 
rhiibs,  undsaokers  (Catoitomm  ardtn$). 

AmeHoan  Falli,  Idaho.— Xt  American  Falls  the  Snake  River  is  about  750  feet  wide  aud  flows  but 
liille  below  the  general  surface  of  the  eoiintry.  The  shores  have  no  abrupt  bauks,  the  northern  shore 
(inly  being  followed  by  a  low,  rounded  bluff  100  to  200  feet  high.  This  was  apparently  composed  of 
gravel,  na  no  lava  could  be  seen  projecting  from  it.  The  outline  of  the  American  Falls  is  very  irreg. 
ular.  Its  position  is  determined  by  a  boaaltio  ledge  orossing  the  river.  The  position  of  the  edge  of 
this  ledge  is  now  marked  by  a  series  of  islands,  bstweau  which  the  river  flows  aud  below  which  it 
falls.  This  same  leilge  can  be  traced  for  some  distance  along  the  edge  of  the  caPon  bvlow  the  falls 
and  is  there  seen  to  be  underlaid  by  a  layer  of  sandstone.  At  the  falls,  however,  this  seems  not  to  be 
the  case,  the  rock  being  lava  from  top  to  bottom.  The  western  end  of  the  falls  is  probably  200  to  300 
yards  furthor  upstream  than  the  eastern  end.  The  front  of  the  falls  is  located,  therefore,  very 
obliquely  to  the  course  of  the  stream.  They  show  nowhere  any  great  vertical  height,  15  feet  being 
probably  near  the  maximum.  In  several  places  the  falls  are  so  broken  down  aa  to  present  only  a 
short  streuib  of  steep  rupids,  with  gentler  rapids  above  and  below.  Below  the  falls  the  water  becomes 
immediately  deep,  but  the  rupids  above  are,  at  the  stage  of  water  seen,  extremely  shallow.  On  the 
eastern  side  of  the  stream,  especially,  is  a  long  stretch  of  these  shallow  rapids,  in  which  the  water 
averages  not  more  than  6  inches  deep,  and  it  is  here  that  the  greatest  obstaoles  to  the  asoent  of  Hsh 
would  be  found.  When  water  is  high  in  the  spring,  troat  are  seen  to  pass  over  the  falls  in  large 
numbers,  and  it  is  probably  true  that  even  at  a  lower  stage  of  wa^"',  as  in  the  fall,  flsh  can  succeed 
in  passing  this  obstacle.  A  flshway  oonid  be  made  here  at  raiy  little  expense  were  it  eonsidered 
desirable. 

The  stream  here,  as  elsewhere  in  Idaho,  flows  through  a  oonntry  covered  with  sagebrush  and  the 
usual  desert  vegetation,  bordered  more  or  less  thickly  with  willows.  In  the  rapids  at  American  Falls 
the  rooks  ikre  thickly  covered  with  green  Alaiuoutous  alg»,  and  among  the  rooks  are  found  very 
numerously  orawflsh,  caddis  worms,  and  other  suitable  food  for  fish.  At  American  Fall*  the  river 
descends  abont  70  feet  and  enters  a  oatton,  the  surfaoe  of  the  oonntry  remaining  abont  the  same  level, 
and  firom  this  point  to  below  Shoshone  Falls  the  stream  descends  deeper  and  deeper  into  its  canon  by 
a  suocesHion  of  falls  and  rapids.  It  flows  here  through  what  is  known  as  the  "  Lava  Beds  "  of  the 
Snake  River,  and  the  walls  of  its  oaHon  ore  oorapoaedof  snooessive  lava  flows.  But  few  streams  find 
their  way  into  the  Snake  Blver  from  the  monntaina  of  the  north.  As  will  be  seen  from  the  map,  the 
greater  number  of  these  on  flowint;  down  from  the  mountains  sink  into  the  lava  and  are  lost.  Of  this 
kind  are  Birch  Creek,  Little  Ijost  K  iver,  and  Big  Lost  Bi ver.  There  is  thus  a  great  stretch  of  country 
bordering  the  river  on  the  nortli  e>\tirely  without  anrfaoe  water.  Towards  the  west  the  Malade  or 
Wood  liiver  la  the  first  stream  to  find  its  way  into  the  Snake  from  the  north.  The  water  which  thus 
sinks  near  the  base  of  the  mountains  apparently  reappears  inside  the  canon  of  the  Snake,  coming  out 
lis  great  springs  at  the  base  of  the  olift's.  The  best-known  of  these  lie  between  the  Shoshone  Falls 
and  Glen's  Ferry.  They  emerge  from  the  foot  of  the  cliffs  often  as  large  streams  and  are  used  to 
irrigate  the  bottom  lands  which  border  the  river  on  the  north  at  that  point. 

The  witter  of  these  streams  i^  beautifully  olear  and  cold;  trout  abound  in  them,  and  the  smaller 
iiiinnowB  run  np  from  the  Snake  into  them.  Crawfish  (Ait&eni  gambtUi)  also  ai-e  very  abundant. 
The  temperature  of  the  streams  averages  abont  60°,  and  they  would  be  admirably  adapted  for 
hatchery  purposes.  The  salmon  visit  this  part  of  the  river  in  sufficient  numbers  to  furnish  roe 
for  batching,  and  this  is  probably  the  most  available  point  where  suitable  water  and  an  abundance  of 
flsh  can  be  found  for  saoh  a  station  in  Idaho. 

Unnamtd  Fall*. — ^The  next  falls  in  the  course  of  the  stream  were  not  visited  by  any  member  of 
the  party,  a^  nsthing  was  heard  of  them  until  we  had  passed  that  region.  They  seemed  to  be  unnamed. 
According  to  Mr.  J.  L.  Fuller,  of  Bliss,  Idaho,  the  river  has  a  vertical  fall  of  about  40  feet  a  short 
distance  above  the  month  of  Dry  Creek,  the  latter  a  small  stream  coming  in  from  the  eoutii,  nearly 
midway  between  Amerioam  and  Shoshone  Falls.  Mr.  Fuller  worked  a  mining  claim  at  the  month  of 
Dry  Creek  at  one  time,  and  Is  therefore  well  aoqnainted  with  the  falls,  which  he  states  to  be  vertical 
and  impassable  to  any  kind  of  flsh. 

Sho*1u>u»  »nd  Twin  I^Mt.-~'thi>  great  obstacles  to  the  passage  of  salmon  up  the  Snake  are  foiiiul 
in  Shoshone  and  Twin  Falls,  both  of  which  are  vertical  and  of  great  height.    The  erection  of  fish- 


26 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA   EIVEE   BASIN. 


ways  to  permit  the  paasage  of  salmon  aeems  wholly  impracticable.  Both  Shoshone  and  Twin  Falla 
areformtxl  by  layers  of  more  compiict  and  lifrhter  oolored  lava,  which  the  stream  wears  away  with 
great  difficulty.  Shoshone  Falls  can  be  reached  by  a  stage  ride  of  28  miles  from  the  town  of  Shoshone, 
on  the  Hue  of  the  Union  Pacitlc.  The  cafion  at  this  point  is  high  and  composed  of  blacic  colnmnar 
basalt,  which  rises  from  the  river's  edge  as  vertical  cliffs,  estimated  to  be  about  800  feet  high.  The 
falls  are  said  to  be  210  feet  high.  The  middle  of  the  falls  is  higher  upstream  than  either  end,  giving 
it  a  somewhat  hor8eHhoe-Bhape<l  appearance,  and  the  front  of  the  falls  is  about  1,200  feet  wide. 

Twin  Falls  are  4  miles  above  Shoshone  Falls  and  would  be  fully  as  serious  an  obstacle  as  the 
latter,  even  if  fish  were  able  to  roach  their  foot.  An  island  div  ides  the  stream  here  into  two  portions, 
both  of  which,  however,  full  nearly  vertically  a  distance  said  to  be  180  feet.  On  the  north  side  of  the 
atream  the  vertical  portion  of  the  falls  is  somewhat  lower,  the  upper  portion  having  worn  back  to 
form  very  strong  rapids,  through  which  no  fish  wjuld  be  able  to  pass.  We  wore  not  able  to  learn  that 
■almon  reached  the  foot  of  Shoshone  Falls,  although  it  is  very  probable  that  they  do  so.  The  stream 
Immediately  below  the  fulls  is  deep  and  flows  at  the  bottom  of  a  very  steep  cuilon,  and  even  if  the 
■almon  were  there  unil  sjiawned  in  the  bed  of  the  stream,  it  might  be  diffloult  to  detect  them. 

Four  miles  below  Shoshone  Falls  is  the  first  of  the  large  springs  already  referred  to.  These  rise 
near  the  northern  shore  of  the  river  in  what  are  kuown  as  Blue  Lakes  (see  p.  27),  and  one  of  these 
springs  forms  a  large  river.  The  Snake  River  at  this  point  has  widened  out  and  flows  over  a  succes- 
sion of  shallows,  and  has  a  considerable  expanse  of  bottom  lands,  which  can  be  cultivated  whenever 
water  can  be  put  upon  them. 

Auger  FalU. — A  gentleman  living  at  Blue  Lakes  is  of  the  opinion  that  salmon  do  not  oome  above 
Anger  Falls,  which  is  found  4  miles  below  Blue  Lakes.  This  was  found  to  consist  of  a  stretch  of 
very  strong  rapids.  At  Auger  Falls  the  river  runs  for  a  d  istance  of  at  least  250  yards,  hemmed  in 
between  basaltic  walls,  which  vary  in  distance  from  50  to  2.50  feet.  As  nearly  as  could  be  estimated, 
the  stream  falls  in  this  distiince  about  50  feet,  the  last  20  feet  of  which  is  nearly  vertical.  In  this 
entire  stretch  of  250  yards  there  is  no  'esting-place  for  a  fish,  and  the  water  dashes  th.'-ough  it  in 
whirls  and  eddies  in  such  a  way  as  to  make  it  doubtful  whether  a  salmon  could  sustain  the  long- 
continned  effort  necessary  to  pass  the  rapids.  It  is,  however,  certain  that  no  single  stretch  of  these 
■o-oalled  falls  is  insurmountable.  Both  salmon  and  sturgeon  are  frequently  taken  below  Auger  Falls, 
but  apparently  not  above  them.  At  Auger  Falls  it  was  estimated  that  the  current  averaged  15  feet 
a  second.  Marks  on  the  rocks  show  that  at  high  water  the  stream  was  at  least  15  feet  above  the  level 
seen  at  this  time. 

Upper  and  Lower  Salmon  Falls. — From  Auger  Falls  down  to  Salmon  Falls  the  valley  of  the  Snake 
widens  and  the  cliffs  become  broken  down  and  more  and  more  rounded,  as  though  glaciated.  On 
each  side  of  the  stream  are  found  in  places  extensive  deposits  of  water-worn  gravel,  which  are  washed 
for  gold.  At  the  Upper  Falls  the  stream,  flows  over  auothor  lava  ledge,  the  southern  end  of  the  fall 
being  farthest  down  stream,  and  is  there  broken  down  into  rapids,  which  present  no  serious  obstacle 
to  the  ascent  of  the  flsh.  This  is  also  the  case  at  various  points  along  the  front  of  the  falls.  The 
maximum  vertical  descent  is  about  20  to  25  feet.  Salmon  are  known  to  go  over  these  falls  in  large 
numbers.  ^~>dians  encamp  yearly  on  the  island  immediately  below  the  falls,  and  spear  the  lish  as 
they  pass  ovor  the  ripples.  Well-known  spawning-beds  are  said  to  be  in  the  river  about  2  miles  above 
the  fulls,  and  salmon  are  knowu  to  ascend  Salmon  Creek,  a  tributary  entering  2  or  3  miles  higher  up. 
A  white  man  bus  been  in  the  habit  of  catching  salmon  with  a  seine ^ach  year,  and  could  obtain  more 
than  he  could  find  market  for.  It  seems  evident,  then,  that  a  hatchery  located  near  this  point  and 
drawing  water  from  one  of  the  many  large  spnug-fed  streams  which  enter  here  would  have  no  diffl- 
onlty  in  securing  t>h. 

The  Lower  Salmon  Falls  are  about  6  miles  below  the  Upper.  We  are  informed  that  a  man  can 
descend  this  stretch  of  the  stream  in  a  small  bout,  although  there  are  numerous  shallow  places  and 
short  rapids.  The  Lower  Falls  are  very  similar  to  the  Upper.  The  river  at  this  point  fulls  over  a 
lava  shelf,  for  the  most  part  vertically,  and  with  a  total  descent  of  about  20  feet.  The  front  of  the 
falls  is  very  wide,  probably  over  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  and  runs  obliquely,  the  northern  end  being  farthest 
upstream.  By  far  the  greater  part  of  the  water  falls  over  the  southern  half  of  the  falls,  so  little 
coming  over  the  northern  part  v  to  prevent  the  ascent  of  fish,  except,  perhaps,  at  one  point.  At  the 
extreme  southern  end  the  fulls  are  much  lower.  Here,  and  also  near  the  center,  the  fish  would 
apparently  have  no  ditflculty  in  ascending.  To  sum  up  what  was  learned  abont  the  salmon  in  this 
part  of  Snake  River,  it  is  certain  that  they  visit  Glen's  Ferry  and  the  stretch  of  the  stream  between 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA   RIVER   BASIN. 


37 


there  and  a  poiut  2  or  3  mile*  above  Upper  Salmon  Falls  in  large  numbers,  and  spawn  mainly  in  the 
bed  of  the  stream,  some  of  them  entering  Salmon  Creek,  as  before  said.  It  is  not  known  to  iis  how 
far  they  ascend  towards  Anger  Falls  from  the  Upper  Salmon  Falls  They  appejir  late  in  Angnst,  and 
spawn  in  the  bed  of  Snake  River  and  the  amiiller  tributaries  from  September  on  to  November. 

Srakt  Hiver  beloio  the  vnrinuii  falls. — A  short  distance  below  Shoshone  Falls,  as  already  indicated, 
the  valley  of  the  Snake  changes  its  character.  The  bluff  recedes,  leaving  the  valley  several  miles 
wide  in  places,  and  becomes,  at  the  same  time,  less  abrupt,  and  the  lava  walls  are  often  entirely 
concealed  by  slopes  of  water- worn  gravel  and  soil.  The  valley  varies  in  width,  but  preserves  this 
general  character  as  far  as  the  town  of  Hnntington.  It  is  along  tlie  upper  part  of  this  widened 
valley  that  the  extensive  springs  alrea<ly  mentioned  are  found.  The  first  of  these  are  at  Blue  Lakes. 
Here  they  nse  in  the  bottom  of  a  lake  at  the  base  of  the  basaltic  cliffs  which  forms  the  canon  wall. 
The  outlet  of  this  lake,  after  rnnning  a  short  distance,  widens  into  a  second  very  deep  lake,  in  which 
the  wat«r  again  sinks  into  the  lava.  This  water,  together  with  a  mnoh  larger  supply,  reappears  at  » 
lower  level  as  a  very  large  spring,  f^om  which  flows  a  small  river  of  beautifully  clear  bine  water. 
This  finds  its  way  among  tbe  lava  bowlders  down  a  rather  gentle  incline  to  the  Snake.  Farther  down 
the  valley  at  intervals  appear  other  similar  springs.  The  streams  that  flow  from  these  are  used  to 
irrigate  the  bottom  lands,  which  are  naturally  covered  with  sagebrush  and  other  desert  vegetation. 
On  the  application  of  water  they  become  very  fertile,  raising  large  crops  of  alfalfa  and  other  hay,  of 
garden  vegetables,  and  fruit.  If  the  supply  of  salmon  were  assured,  these  springs  would  offer  model 
sites  for  a  hatchery.  They  are  located  from  6  to  10  miles  above  Bliss,  Idaho,  and  are  reached  by  good 
roads.  The  roost  extensive  of  these  springs  empty  into  the  lower  course  of  the  Malade  or  Wood  River, 
which  empties  into  the  Snake  a  short  distance  from  Bliss.    (See  p.  26). 

The  long  stretch  of  the  Snake  River  which  lies  between  Hnntington  and  Lewlston  was  not  visited 
by  any  member  of  the  party.  The  stream  was  described  to  us  as  flowing  for  tbe  greater  part  of  this 
stretch  through  a  deep  caDon  in  which  were  numerous  rapids.  A  steamer  once  passed  through  this 
canon  at  higli  water,  but  arrived  at  Lewlston  "o  battered  and  broken  that  none  has  dared  attempt 
the  passage  since.  No  falls  occur  along  this  stretoh  of  the  stream,  and  there  is  nothing  that  can  be 
considered  an  obstruction  to  salmon.  But  this  part  of  the  country  is  almost  uninhabited  and  the 
river  is  difficult  of  approach.  At  Lewlston  and  below,  the  stream  flows  again  through  a  comparatively 
open  country,  the  caDon  walls  being  rounded  and  the  slopes  covered  for  the  most  part  by  deposits  of 
water-worn  gravel  and  soil.  Mr.  W.  M.  Stockton,  of  Glen's  Ferry,  Idaho,  who  has  resided  there 
twenty-three  years,  says  that  the  Snake  River  is  usually  highest  in  June,  falls  until  the  winter  rains 
jet  in,  and  is  lowest  in  October.  Salmon  caught  in  large  numbers  at  Glen's  Ferry;  sjieared.  The  run 
begins  in  September  and  lasts  six  weeks  or  two  months.  More  numerous  in  former  years  than  now, 
but  plenty  were  caught  last  year,  1892.  Indians  spear  them,  salt  and  dry  them  for  winter  use.  They 
spawn  on  the  gravel  beds  in  the  river  at  and  near  Glen's  Ferry  in  water  so  shallow  that  the  dorsal 
flns  are  out  of  the  water.  Knows  of  no  obstrnotions  in  the  river  below  Salmon  Falls.  Has  heard  that 
Salmon  Falls  is  an  obstruction ;  does  not  know  so.  The  sturgeon  are  caught  at  all  seasons  of  the  year; 
more  numerous  in  summer.  Has  seen  and  caught  salmon  in  Fayette  River  and  has  seen  them  spawning 
there  and  in  the  Snake  River  on  the  ripples.  The  Boise  is  highest  in  June  and  lowest  in  October. 
Knows  nothing  definite  about  the  redUsh.  Says  they  are  a  landlocked  salmon.  They  are  caught  in 
Payette  Lake  and  shipped  to  Caldwell  and  sold  aa  food-flsh  during  September, 

TRISnTARIES  07  SNAKB  BIVXB. 

Bou  Fork  of  Snake  7iie«r.— This  is  a  small  stream  flowing  into  the  Snake  above  Focatello.  It  was 
examined  on  the  Fort  Hall  Indian  Reservation  about  12  miles  north  of  Focatello.  The  stream  there 
was  about  16  feet  wide,  10  inches  deep,  and  had  a  very  slow  current — not  over  6  inches  per  second,  but 
somewhat  swifter  on  the  riffles.  The  water  was  somewhat  muddy  and  the  bottom  of  the  stream  was 
ohiufly  of  mud,  '^ith  gravel  in  some  places.  There  was  an  abundance  of  yoiloo  and  other  algoid  vege- 
tation In  the  water,  and  the  banks  were  well  covered  with  willows  and  small  Cottonwood  bushes,  but 
no  large  bushes  of  any  kind.  Fishes,  including  trout,  were  abundant  in  this  stream,  and  it  was  here 
that  the  types  of  a  new  sucker  ( Catottomui  pocalello)  were  obtained,  llie  temperature  of  the  water  at 
1  p.  m.,  August  4,  was  72.6°,  when  the  air  in  the  shade  was  93°. 

Port  Net^f  iitMr,— This  stream  has  its  rise  in  southeastern  Idaho,  on  the  low  divide  which  now 
■eparatee  the  Salt  Lake  Basin  from  that  of  the  Upper  Snake  River,  and  flow  into  the  Snake  a  few 
mUM  wwt  of  Pooatello.    At  Focatello  this  stream  average*  about  SO  feet  wide,  6  inches  deep,  and 


28 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN    THE   COLUMBIA    RIVKR    IIA8IN. 


Mows  about  H  feet  per  secuud.  There  are  niaiiy  deep  holes  or  pools  with  mud  bottom,  while  in  the 
shallower  reaches  the  bottom  is  of  gravel  and  the  current  is  more  swift.  The  banks  are  uBually  low 
and  of  clay,  with  occasional  rocky  places.  The  water  is  rather  clear  niid  cool,  the  temperature  being 
70'^  at  noon,  Augusts,  when  that  of  the  air  in  the  abade  was  90^.  There  appeared  to  be  very  little 
algiB  or  other  water  vegetatii^L'  i".  tl.::  itream.  The  banki)  were  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  willows, 
while  hack  from  the  stream  a  short  disiance  on  either  oide  are  Hagebrunh  ))lulns. 

A  few  dead  bivalves  {Margaritana  margariti/era)  were  found,  bnt  moUiiNcous  life  seems  to  be  rare 
in  this  stream.  Crawiish  {A$tacua  gambelii)  were  found  in  consideralilo  abundance.  Not  muny 
species  of  flsh  were  found  liere.  By  far  the  most  abundant  species  is  Leucinoui  hydrophlox,  the  next 
most  coinniuu  are  the  western  dace  (Rhiniohihyi  cataracta  diihit)  and  the  chub  (Leuciscui  linealuti). 
Suckers  (Catoitomiu  catn$tomn$)  and  blobs  (Cottui  pMlonipt)  werr  also  found,  the  latter  in  consider- 
able numbers.  No  tront  were  seen  here,  but  we  were  informed  thut  they  are  sometimes  taker  in  tlie 
river  near  Pooatello,  and  that  they  are  found  rather  plentifully  further  up  the  stream.  The  tempera- 
ture and  other  characters  of  the  water  are  fairly  suitable  for  trout,  and  no  doubt  plants  of  such  fish 
would  prove  successful  in  this  river. 

Mink  Creek. — This  is  a  small  stream  flowing  into  the  Port  Nenf  about  6  miles  above  Pooatello. 
Near  its  mouth  it  averages  about  6  to  8  feet  wide,  2  feet  doep,  and  has  a  2-foot  current.  The  water 
at  the  time  of  our  visit  was  pretty  clear  and  the  temperature  C9°  at  noon,  August  3,  when  that  uf 
the  air  in  the  shade  was  92°.  The  bed  of  the  stream  wa«  of  mud  and  sand  in  the  more  quiet  portions 
and  of  gravel  on  the  riffles.  The  banks  wore  overhung  by  a  heavy  growth  of  willows.  This  is  a 
typical  trout  stream,  and  we  found  the  cut-throat  trout  to  be  quite  common.  About  the  same  species 
of  minnows  and  suckers  which  wore  found  in  the  Port  Keuf  at  Pocatello  wero  also  found  here. 
Crawfish,  toads,  frogs,  and  mussels  wore  also  obtained  here. 

The  Port  Neuf  Uiver  at  the  n'juth  of  Mink  Creek  is  a  clear,  cool  stream  with  gravel  and  lime- 
deposit  bottom  in  the  shallower  parts  and  rond  and  sand  where  deeper  and  more  quiet.  The  same 
species  of  fishes  wero  obtained  here  as  elsewhere  in  this  river. 

Salmon  Creek. — The  uppermost  tributary  of  Snake  River  to  which  salmon  have  access  is  Salmon 
Creek,  emptying  into  the  river  3  or  4  miles  above  the  Upper  Salmon  Falls.  This  was  not  visited  by 
ns,  and  little  seems  to  be  known  about  the  general  character  of  the  stre.im.  Mr.  J.  L.  Fuller  has  seen 
salmon  in  the  lower  2  or  3  miles  of  the  stream,  but  dues  not  know  bow  far  they  ascend. 

italade  Rirer, — The  next  stream  is  the  Malade  or  Little  Wood  River,  already  mentioned.  This 
was  fished  near  Shoshone  by  Messrs.  Thobnrn  and  Rutter,  August  5.  Width,  26  feet;  depth,  3  feet ; 
current,  2  feet;  temperature  at  7  a.  m. :  air,  70° ;  water,  62.5°.  During  dry  seasons  the  Malade  becomes 
dry  for  the  lower40  or  50  miles  of  its  course  and  is  prevented  from  being  a  salmon  stream  by  inaccessilile 
falls  near  its  month.  As  seen  by  ns  in  its  lower  course,  it  runs  on  the  surface  of  the  country  until  a 
point  about  4  miler  above  its  month.  Here  it  leaves  the  surface  and  enters  a  narrow  cleft  in  the  rocks 
by  a  succession  of  falls  and  rapids,  two  of  which  are  designated  the  Upper  and  the  Lower  Falls.  This 
cleft  in  the  rook  soon  deepens  and  widens  into  an  extensive  canon,  which  seemed  tu  be  from  500  to 
800  feet  deep  in  its  lower  part.  At  the  lower  falls  the  stream  descends  vertically  abont  40  feet,  shooting 
out  of  the  cation,  which  is  here  a  mere  cleft  20  to  30  feet  wide,  and  falling  into  a  deep  pool  at  the  bottom. 
As  Mr.  Fuller  stated,  it  looks  very  much  like  the  stream  out  of  the  spout  of  a  teakettle.  During 
hi^h  water  the  stream  rises  so  as  to  obliterate  these  falls,  and  in  the  spring  trout  have  no  diffloulty  in 
ascending  from  the  Snake  into  the  Upper  Malade.  In  autumn,  however,  these  falls  are  an  impassable 
obstacle  to  the  salmon.  It  is  below  these  falls  that  the  large  springs  already  referred  to  enter  the 
Mulade.  These  increase  the  size  of  the  stream  many  times,  so  that  even  during  the  lowest  stage  of 
water  in  autumn  the  Lower  Malade  flows  full — this  even  at  timeswhenthe  upperstreamis  entirely  dry. 
According  to  Mr.  Fuller,  who  based  his  statement  upon  the  reports  of  engineers,  the  Lower  Malade  at 
its  lowest  stage  is  a  stream  averaging  7  feet  deep,  72  feet  wide,  having  a  current  15  miles  an  hour.  It 
descends  rapidly  in  its  lower  course  and  wonld  olTer  a  fine  site  for  a  hatchery.  Salmon  are  seen  at 
far  as  the  base  of  the  Lower  Falls,  1.  e.,  2  or  3  miles  above  its  mouth. 

Briineau  River. — The  next  considerable  tributary  is  the  Bruueau,  which  enters  from  the  south  about 
opposite  the  town  of  Mountain  Home.  This  was  not  visited  by  any  member  of  the  party.  A  large 
number  of  men  were  intervieweil  who  v/ere  acquainted  with  the  stream ;  these  all  agreed  that  it  was  a 
natural  salmon  stream.  Mr.  Ful  ei  has  seen  the  salmon  spawning  in  the  headwaters  of  the  Brunean, 
in  October.  Recently  a  dam  has  bein  placed  in  the  lower  course  of  the  stream  for  irrigation  puxpuse* 
Tite  dam  is  without  flshway,  and  salmon  are  now  absolutely  prevented  from  ascending.         ,  ^,  ,  .;, ., 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA    RIVER   BASIN. 


29 


OwyhM  Rieer. — The  Owyhee  River  is  s  Urge  stroam  rising  iu  themonntalns  of  Nevada  and  flowing 
into  theSnalce  at  the  boundary  between  Idulio  und  UreKon,  sonth  of  HuiitiiiKton,  Ore^.  The  aaluioii 
are  suid  tu  enter  thta  in  quantity,  anil  are  wvll  known  to  the  minors  on  the  hendwatem  of  the  itreuni. 
This  is  a  river  of  mncli  importuntu.  tu  which  nearly  all  the  streams  of  northern  Nevada  are  tributary. 
Hoite  liivcr. — Examined  August,  onomile  west  of  Uuld well,  Idaho.  Width,  i)00  to  400  feet ;  depth, 
2  to  S  feet;  onrrent,  2  feet;  temperature  of  water  at  10  a,  m.,  66^.  The  bed  of  this  stream  is  mostly 
sandy,  with  occasional  patches  of  gravel.  There  is  a  riprap  dam  about  2  miles  above  Caldwell, 
liolonging  to  the  Howard  Sebree  Company.  The  lower  slope  of  this  dam  is  about  6  feet,  and  there  in 
no  Bshway. 

Dr.  J.  B.  Wright,  of  Caldwell,  tells  us  that  he  caught  salmon  iu  the  Buise,  near  Caldwell,  in  1864, 
and  that  they  were  very  numerous  then.  In  1865  placer  mining  began  on  the  Upper  Boise  and  but 
few  salmon  have  been  oaught  since.  Occasionally  he  catches  one  in  the  upper  waters  of  the  Hoisn, 
but  they  are  very  rare.  He  further  says  that  salmon  trout  enter  this  river  in  the  spring,  when  the 
waters  are  high,  and  that  he  has  caught  them  fnll  of  eggs  in  July  in  the  Upper  Boise.  The  dam 
already  mentioned  has  been  in  Ave  years,  but  he  does  not  think  it  has  affected  the  run  of  iish.  Dr. 
Wright  says  that  the  salmon  run  up  Snake  River  in  September,  the  run  laoting  until  the  middle  oi 
October.  He  has  not  noticed  any  decrease  iu  recent  years.  We  were  also  told  that  at  Oleu's  Ferry 
there  is  a  run  of  salmon  trr  't  in  April  and  May. 

Payette  Kiver. — Examined  August  9,  three-fourths  of  a  mile  southeast  of  Payette,  Idaho,  near  its 
mouth.  .Average  width  360  feet;  depth,  3  feet;  current,  1^  feet;  temperature  of  water,  63°  at  6  p.  m. 
Water  clear;  bottom  sand  and  gravel.  The  Fayette  at  this  place  is  a  rather  shallow  stream  flowing 
rapidly  over  numerous  shallows  and  mnoh  divided  by  gravelly  islands.  It  flows  over  sand  and  coarse 
waterwom  gravel.  The  river  seems  to  be  suitable  for  salmon,  bnt  no  one  in  the  vioinity  seemed 
able  to  give  ns  any  notes  of  value  as  to  their  occurrence. 

Salmon  River. — This  is,  except  the  Snake,  the  largest  and  most  important  and  is  certainly  the 
least  known  river  of  Idaho.  It  has  its  headwaters  in  the  mountains  forming  the  divide  between 
Montana  and  Idaho,  and  enters  the  Snake  where  the  latter  is  passing  through  its  deep  canon,  near  the 
northeast  corner  of  Oregon.  We  were  informed  that  the  lower  course  of  the  Salmon  River  itself  is 
through  a  deep  narrow  caQon,  which  renders  it  difficult  of  access.  It  is  claimed  that  salmon  still 
ascend  this  stream  in  large  numbers,  and  spawn  in  all  the  little  creeks  high  in  the  mountains.  Little, 
however,  is  known  with  certainty  regarding  the  salmon  or  other  fishes  of  this  stream. 

Clearwater  River. — Examined  August  15  and  16  at  various  points  from  its  mouth  to  6  to  7i  miles 
above  liOwiston,  Idaho,  to  the  mouth  of  Potlatch  Creek.  It  is  there  a  clear,  cold  stream  flowing  over 
very  largo  round  bowlders.  This  kind  of  bottom  makes  it  almost  impossible  to  use  a  net,  and  salmon 
could  not  be  obtained  by  this  meth'^d  if  the  stream  were  otherwise  suitable  for  »  hatchery.  The  tem- 
perature of  the  water  was  83.6°  when  the  air  was  83.6°  at4  p.  m.,  and  63.6°  when  the  air  was  63°  at  10 
a.  m.  As  in  all  of  these  larger,  clear,  cold  streams,  we  found  fishes  very  scarce.  The  smaller  minnows 
and  suckers  could  be  obtained  only  at  the  rate  of  two  or  three  to  a  haul.  Fish  may  be  more  abundant 
iu  the  deeper  part«  of  the  stream,  or  the  numbers  may  be  kept  down  by  the  trout,  which  oonli^  easily 
pursue  the  smaller  fishes  in  the  clear  water. 

Potlatch  Creek.— Tbia  is  a  small  stream  flowing  into  the  Clearwater,  near  Lewisto.  i  ^bs 
examined  August  16  near  its  mouth. 

Paloaee  River. — This  is  a  considerable  stream  rising  in  western  Idaho  and  flowing  westward 
through  sontheasterp  Washington  to  the  Snake  River  north  of  Walla  Walla  about  45  miles.  It  was 
examined  near  Colfax,  Wash.,  Angnst  17,  At  this  place  the  stream  was  quite  low,  being  reduced  to 
pools.    Temperature  of  water  74°. 

Granie  Sonde  River. — This  river  rises  in  eastern  Oregon,  flows  northeast,  and  Joins  Snake  River 
near  the  forty-sixth  parallel.  It  was  examined  near  La  Grande  August  11.  According  to  Mr.  J.  B. 
Foley,  of  La  Grande,  salmon  are  very  numerous  in  this  rirer  in  September  and  October,  coming  as  far 
as  the  dam  1  mile  above  La  Grande.  They  try  to  jump  this,  bat  do  not  succeed.  They  are  speared 
in  large  numbers  by  the  Indians  and  boys,  bat  are  so  worn  and  oat  up  by  their  trip  up  the  river  that 
they  are  of  little  value  as  food  fish.  The  dam  is  of  logs  with  two  4-foot  steps  on  the  lower  side,  and 
has  no  fishway.  There  are  no  dams  below— that  is,  between  La  Grande  and  the  Snake  Biver.  Plenty 
of  salmon  tiont  come  in  the  spring  in  April  and  May.  These  can  get  over  the  dam  in  high  water. 
Water  lowest  in  Aagast  and  September.  There  is  placer  mining  in  the  npper  parts  of  the  river,  and 
the  water  is  milky.  Tioat  are  plentiAil  at  Meaohain,  in  the  appn  Grando  Bonde  River,  Hid  in  the 
side  streams. 


80 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMIUA    RIVER    BASIN. 


Palaha  Hiver. — Tliia  Htream  wm  oxumiued  at  Starbuck  AugiiHt  14.  Temperature  at  4  p.  m.,  08'^; 
•ir,  66^.  Width,  50  fei>t;  depth,  1  foot;  current,  2  feet.  The  I'ataha  Ih  of  voiue  importance  and  iit 
well  gu|iplied  with  thu  commiiii  lighes  of  the  region. 

Pgnd  d'Oreille  Hiver, — There  arw  two  important  lakcH  whi<'li  Hri'  dniiued  hy  this  river — Flathead 
Lake,  in  Montana,  luid  Luke  Peud  d'Oreille,  which  is  in  Idalio,  near  the  WuHhington  State  line. 
Examination*  were  made  at  Flt\tbHa4l  Lake*  in  1801  by  Kvermuiin  and  Jeukiiia,  and  in  1892  by  Qorham 
•ud  Woobuan,  who  found  the  "falls"  in  I'lathead  Kiver  near  thu  ontlet  of  Flathead  Lake  to  consist 
■imply  of  a  series  of  ra)iidH,  which  do  not  interfere  in  the  least  with  the  free  movements  of  (lab.  From 
this  point  down  Flathead  Kiver  possesHes  no  falls  or  obstructions  of  any  kind,  und  there  is  none  in 
Clarke  Fork  until  near  I^ake  I'enil  d'Oreille.) 

Not  fur  above  Lake  I'end  d'Oreille,  iu  Clarke  Fork  proper,  and  near  a  station  on  the  Northern 
Faoitlo  called  Thompson  FuUh,  are  some  small  rapids  which  are  no  more  serious  than  are  those  iu 
Flathead  Kiver.  This  is  according  to  Dr.  Gorhani  and  Mr.  Woolman.  We  did  not  doem  it  necessary 
to  revisit  these  two  places,  as  Or.  Uorham's  notes  and  the  information  which  we  gained  through 
oonvenatlous  with  a  number  nf  persons  who  were  familiar  with  that  part  of  the  river  convinced  us 
that  there  are  no  obstructions  of  any  importance  above  Lake  I'end  d'Kreille. 


We  examined  this  river  pretty  carefully  from  the  outlet  of  Lake  Peud  d'Oreille  to  near  its  month, 
or  where  it  joins  the  Coiuml>ia  just  across  the  British  Columbia  line.  While  that  portion  of  the  river 
above  Lake  Peud  d'Oreille  is  still  spoken  of  as  Clarke  Fork,  the  portion  below  Lake  Peud  d'Oreille 
is,  in  that  region,  known  only  as  the  Peud  d'Oreille  Kiver.  From  Sand  Point,  J.dabo,  which  is  at  the 
outlet  of  Lake  Pend  d'Oreille,  to  the  Washington  line  is  about  25  miles.  In  this  portion  of  the  river 
there  is  only  one  fall  or  rapid,  and  that  is  Albauy  I'alls,  sometimes  known  as  Villard  Falls  or 
Seniaiiuoteeu  Falls.  These  falls  are  about  1|  mile^  above  the  little  town  of  Newport,  Idaho.  The 
falls  are  divided  by  a  small,  rocky  island,  npon  which  is  built  one  of  the  piers  of  the  railroad  bridge 
which  is  used  by  the  Great  Northern  iu  crossing  the  river  at  this  place. 

The  relative  position  of  the  bridge  and  the  falls  is  shown  iu  the  above  diagram. 

These  falls  are  scarcely  more  than  pretty  steep  rapids  and  would  not  interfere  at  nil  with  the 
•I  cent  of  salmon.    The  part  to  the  left  of  the  islands  (going  down  stream)  is  jnst  above  the  bridge. 

*  For  information  concerning  the  npper  waters  of  this  system  seeEvermaun,  in  Bull.  U.  8.  Fish 
Commission  for  1891,  pp.  1-90. 

tin  1883  Mr.  Livingston  Stone,  under  the  direction  of  the  U.  S.  Commissioner  of  Fish  and  Fish- 
eries, made  an  extended  exploraticm  of  Clarke  Foi'k  and  the  Colnmbia  Kiver  with  reference  to  the 
selection  of  a  suitable  site  for  a  salmou-breeding  station.  In  Mr.  Stone's  interesting  report  (Report 
U.  S.  FishComm.  for  1883,  237-255)  is  given  much  valuable  information  regarding  the  upper  portion 
of  Clarke  Fork  and  the  Big  and  Little  Spokane  rivers.  He  found,  what  our  own  inquiries  confirm, 
that  salmon  never  reach  Lake  Pend  d'Oreille.  but  thought  they  were  jirobably  kept  back  by  the  falla 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Pend  d'Oreille. 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBU    RIVER   HA8IN. 


81 


At  the  time  of  onr  viait  (Auguit  9)  tbs  total  descent  waa  probably  10  fe  i  .  i>nt  aa  a  rapid,  not  In  •  ver- 
tical fall.  During  low  water  the  deacont  would  he  Homewbat  greater.  The  fall  on  the  right  aide  la  of 
the  aame  character  and  preitouta  uo  greater  ditlicultiea. 

Juat  tielow  Alliaii.v  Falls  the  river  ix  perhaps  1,(XX)  feet  wide  and  20  to  30  fret  de«p  in  the  channel. 
The  atream  was  up,  however,  at  this  time,  uud  would  probably  fall  at  least  10  feet  before  reiichiug  low- 
water  marlc,  accordiug  to  the  captain  of  the  Itora,  a  small  ateamer  which  makes  irregular  trips  between 
Newport  and  the  head  of  Box  Cafiim.  On  August  9  we  took  tliia  ateauier  and  went  down  the  river 
to  Box  Canon,  a  distance  of  about  60  inlle-i,  nlthough  the  ateamer  people  call  it  80  miles.  Throughout 
this  distance  the  Pend  d'Oreille  is  a  beautiful,  clear  stream,  with  a  good  atrong  current,  and  varying 
in  width  from  500  to  1,000  feet. 

Ilox  Caiion  is  a  narrow  gorge  al)OUt  1 1  miles  long.  The  walla  are  quite  close  together  and  the  river 
rashes  through  the  narrow  pusiago  wiMi  »  very  strong  current.  There  is,  however,  uo  fall  In  the 
caDon  and  small  boats  have  on  several  ocoiiMious  been  taken  through  without  ii\|nry.  There  is  nothing 
hete  to  atop  the  ascent  of  salmon. 

Jlf«(aljii«  Fall$. — Those  falls  are  juat  below  the  Metaline  mining  camp,  or  7  miles  below  the  foot  ol 
Box  Cation.  The  river  between  Box  CaHon  and  Metaline  Falls  baa  a  good  strong  current,  but  no  falln 
or  rapida.  The  falla  are  over  a  ledge  of  limestone,  through  which  the  river  '  s  cut,  and  are  the  largest 
and  moat  important  of  any  found  in  this  river.  The  total  fall  ia  perhapu  m  much  as  30  feet,  but  it 
ia  in  a  series  of  rapids,  there  being  uo  vertical  drop  ut  all.  The  atream  is  here  inclosed  between  high 
rooky  walls  and  is  very  turbalent  for  some  distance.  Salmon  could  probably  ascend  these  falls  with- 
out much  dilBculty.  4.  little  bluatiag  near  the  left  (west)  wall  would  make  it  still  easier  for  flsh  to 
get  up.    Just  above  Metaline  Falls,  Sullivan  Creek  flows  into  the  Pend  d'Oreille  from  the  right  bank. 

From  Metaline  we  walked  down  the  river  about  14  miles  farther,  on  August  10,  to  the  bead  of 
what  is  known  as  the  Big  Eddy  Caiion.  This  caHon  ia  about  3  miles  long  and  is  quite  narrow,  the 
limestone  walla  being  so  close  together  that  in  one  place  •  fallen  tree  lies  across  from  one  wall  to  the 
other.  The  river  rushes  through  this  caiion  with  great  fury,  but  there  are  no  falls,  and  we  do  not 
believe  that  the  ascent  of  salmou  would  be  seriously  interfered  with.  If  it  should  be  shown  that 
salmon  can  not  swim  against  such  a  strong  current  for  so  groat  a  distance,  wo  see  no  easy  way  by 
which  it  could  be  made  less  difficult.  There  are  some  relatively  quiet  nooks  or  eddies  here  and  there, 
however,  in  which  salmon  would  bo  able  to  rest  and  we  therefore  do  not  consider  Big  Eddy  Canon 
a  serious  obstacle  to  the  ascent  of  flsh.  Lime  Creek,  a  small  but  fine  trout  stream,  flows  into  the  river 
at  the  head  of  this  canon. 

The  river  between  Metaline  Falls  and  Big  Eddy  Caiion  is  quite  swift,  but  contains  no  falls  or 
rapids  worth  mentioning.  The  lower  end  of  Big  Eddy  CaBon  is  but  a  short  distance  from  the  British 
Columbia  line,  just  north  of  which  the  Pend  d'Oreille  turns  abruptly  westward  and  runs  approxi- 
mately parallel  with  the  international  boundary  until  it  flows  into  the  Columbia,  a  distance  of  about 
27  miles  from  where  it  leaves  the  United  States.  We  did  not  visit  this  part  of  the  river  for  two 
reasons:  (1)  Dr.  Gorham's  notes  and  Mr.  Bean's  report  upon  the  obstructions  were  sufHciently  full  to 
enable  us  to  judge  of  its  character;  and  (2)  several  persons  familiar  with  it,  and  with  whom  we  talked, 
all  agreed  that  there  are  no  obstructions  below  Big  Eddy  CaDon  which  are  nearly  as  serious  as  Big 
Eddy  Cafiou  or  Metaline  Falls.  All  agree  that  Metaline  Falls  is  the  moat  serious  obstruction  found 
anywhere  in  tlie  Pend  d'Oreille. 

From  Mr.  Bean's  report  and  from  our  conversations  with  prospectors  and  others  living  along  the 
Fend  d'Oreille,  it  appears  that  there  is  u  series  of  rapids  near  the  mouth  of  the  river  and  another  Jnat 
above  the  mouth  of  Salmon  River,  which  empties  into  the  Pend  d'Oreille  juat  abore  the  Waahlngton 
lino.  These  are  all  said  to  be  rapids  rather  than  falls  and  probably  would  not  interfere  with  the 
ascent  of  salmon  in  the  least.  From  the  foregoing  it  therefore  appears  that  there  are  no  serious 
obstrnctions  ia  Clarke  Fork  of  the  Columbia  which  would  prevent  salmon  from  reaching  Lake  Pend 
d'Oreille  and  Flathead  Lake,  or  other  parts  of  that  river  basin. 

The  Pend  d'Oreille  River  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  plotnresque  In  America.  It  is  a  magnifi- 
cent river,  probably  averaging  over  1,000  feet  in  width  and  being  very  deep  throughout  most  of  its 
course.  In  most  places  there  ia  a  good,  strong  current,  becoming  dangerous  rapida  in  the  narrower 
places.  The  water  is  clear  and  pure  and  cold — an  ideal  trout  stream.  The  depth  varies  greatly,  high 
water  .■ccurring  in  July  from  melting  snows.  Late  in  August  or  September  the  water  is  many  feet 
lover  thuu  iu  July.  High  mountain  slopes  ascend  abruptly  from  the  river'.!  banks  throughout  most 
of  its  ooorse,  and  these  are  covered  with  a  heavy  evergreen  forest  and  »  dense  growth  of  underbrush . 


82 


INVKKnOATIONS    IN   THE    COLUMUIA    KIVEK    IJAilN. 


Ill  other  pliioits,  ax  at  Usk,  l.a  Claires,  and  Metaline,  the  river  bottom  wider.H  out  and  there  are  many 
acres  of  excellent  tanning  land.  D'lrinj;  hij.h  water  large  areas  of  this  level  land  are  covered  by 
water,  but  when  the  waters  Hubside  those  tracts  becon:d  valuable  meadow  Ir.nds. 

Trout  are  abundant  in  this  river;  salmon  trout  are  also  quite  abundant,  aL-d  both  bite  readily. 
We  know  of  no  stream  whieh  otfei*  liner  oppo'^unities  for  sport  with  the  rod  than  the  lower  Pend 
d'Oruille.  Deer,  wild  geese,  and  ducks  wereu  oen  in  considerable  numbers.  I'rom  the  Big  CaQon 
below  Metaline  we  were  compelled  to  walk  back  to  Newport,  a  distane  e  of  abriit  75  miles.  As  thei^e 
was  no  triil  for  the  greater  part  of  this  distance,  except  a  cattle  trail,  'vhi'  u  w.as  use<l  by  cattle  only 
later  in  the  summer  and  which  was  now  under  watev,  we  found  the  tri;i  a  very  ditltcult  one,  attended 
by  maiiv  hardships.  We  reached  Newimrt  early  in  the  morning  of  Angnst  ^5,  where  we  took  the 
tra'     lor  t'olvillu,  Wushington. 

TUE  Ul'PER  COIPMBIA  KIVElt. 

riie  L'pper  Coli<mbia  River  was  visited  only  at  Kettle  Falls,  AV^ashingtoii,  but  sijvoral  ot  its  tril'U- 
liiries  were  examines,  uotes  upon  which  are  given  in  the  ibllowing  pages. 

Ketllc  Falh,  about  9  miles  from  Colville,  Washington,  are  the  only  falls  in  the  Upper  Columbia 
tbiit  need  meutiiining  in  tUis  connection.  At  this  place  the  river  cuts  through  a  ledge  of  highly 
(crystalline  rock,  the  strata  ot  which  have  .i  gentle  dip  upstream.  A  large  island  divides  the  river 
iiitii  iwii  parts,  as  shown  in  the  following  diagi  \m: 


At  the  present  stage  of  water  we  judged  these  falls  to  have  a  vertical  fall  of  12  *o  15  feet  each,  hut 
cney  are  not  i>f  etjual  height  throughout  their  entire  width.  The  upper  falls  (a)  was  at  least  14  feet 
vertical  near  the  island  and  in  the  middle,  but  toward  the  right  bunk  it  seemed  to  be  lower  audlosf< 
vertical.  The  lower  fall  (b)  is  probably  15  feet  high  in  its  highest  plnces,  but  at  the  right  shore  It, 
too,  is  not  so  high  nor  so  nearly  vertical.  At  c  is  u  seething  whirlpool,  the  wat«'r  couilii;  around  the 
left  side  of  tbe  island,  having  to  make  an  abrupt  turn  in  order  to  get  out.  The  upper  fall  is  probably 
not  of  great  iiiiportanre  in  this  con'  -  ..ion,  for,  w'  bii  salnior  have  once  gotten  B',ove  tbe  iowi:r  falls 
thry  piin  go  around  to  the  right  (going  npstream)  of  the  island  where  there  are  no  Herioui"  obstruc- 
ti<ms,  but  they  are  seen  to  swim  up  over  the  upper  falls.  George  E.  nud  ,laeob  A.  Meyers  are  two 
intelligent  and  well-infonned  men  who  have  livwl  at  Kettle  Falls  for  23  years,  fln<'.  are  (|r':to  familiar 
with  the  falls  and  their  relation  to  the  salmon.  From  them  wo  o  )taine(l  the  following  information: 
Tji  to  187S  salmon  wore  very  abundant  in  this  part  of  'lie  riiiunibiaj  "  niilliiuis  were  seen  ascending 
the  falls  every  season."  The  run  would  be^;iu  in  .lu'.e  mid  continue  until  October,  the  biggest  run 
being  in  the  last  half  of  August.    The  run  tcvard  the  and  of  ,Tnne  was  also  large,  but  while  there  wiw 


Salmon  Fisherios  of  the  Columbia  River     (To  face  page  32  ) 


Plate  VI. 


r, 
O 


'  ' 


It 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE    COLUMBU   EIVER   BASIN. 


88 


a  decrease  in  the  number  from  then  nntil  late  in  the  summer,  some  salmon  were  to  be  seen  all  along; 
80  that  there  wore  not  two  distluct  rniis,  but  one  continuous  mu  from  June  to  November  with  two 
periods  of  greut  numbers — Juue  and  AuRust. 

The  salmon  caught  early  in  the  season  are  regarded  as  the  best.  The  salmon  liavo  no  trouble 
getting  np  Kettle  F;vll8;  indeed,  they  usually  swim  right  up  the  current,  seldom  having  to  jrmp  out 
01  the  water.  The  time  when  it  is  hardest  for  them  to  get  up  is  during  a  medium  stage  of  \/ater;  it 
is  easy  at  high  water,  as  the  fall  is  then  wiped  out  to  some  extent;  it  is  also  easy  at  low  water,  as 
there  are  eddies  and  pools  then  in  which  the  fish  can  rest. 

Salmon  formerly  spawned  in  great  numbers  just  below  Kettle  Falls.  The  spawning  beds  were 
toward  the  right  side  of  the  river  on  gravel  bottom,  usually  just  above  a  riffie.  A  great  many  spawned 
in  the  ColvUle  River  just  below  Meyers  Falls. 

The  Colville  flows  into  the  Columbia  from  the  east  just  below  Kettle  Falls  a  short  distance. 
Meyers  Falls  is  in  the  Colville  2  or  3  mi  .es  above  its  mouth.  The  height  of  the  lower  Mayers  Falls  is 
80  feet,  that  of  the  upper  about  26;  tb  j  total  descent,  including  rapids,  being  abo<it  126  feet.  The 
wiCth  of  th",  falls  is  about  150  feet.  F;almon  still  enter  Colville  River  and  spawn  on  the  gravel  beds 
below  Meyers  Falls,  but  tbey  are  YCi-y  rare.  A  fishway  could  be  placed  here  which  would  enable 
salmon  to  ascend  the  ColvUle,  which  is,  so  far  as  the  other  features  are  concerned,  an  excellent  stream 
for  salmon  and  trout. 

The  temparature  of  the  water  at  the  falls,  August  16,  was  62°, 

While  we  think  the  evidence  shows  that  salmon  are  able  to  ascend  the  Lower  Kettle  Falls,  the 
evidence  that  they  have  ever  gone  much,  if  any,  farther,  is  not  conclusive.  Indeed,  one  of  the  earliest 
accounts  of  these  falls  which  we  have  seen,  states  positively  that  no  salmon  are  i  aken  above  these 
falls.  In  volume  iv  of  the  Narrative  of  the  United  States  Exploring  Expedition  under  Captain  Wilkes 
we  find  the  following : 

"The  Kettle  Falls  are  one  of  the  greatest  ouriosities  in  this  partoftbn  nountry.  They  are  formed 
oy  a  tabular  bed  of  quartz  that  crosses  the  river,  and  which,  being  har'  uiu  the  rocks,  either  above 

or  below,  has  of  course  sutfered  less  by  <tbrasion,  and  thus  formed  a  bat>H,  mki  innd.rH  the  name  appro- 
priate. The  total  descent  of  the  water  is  uO  feet,  though  the  perpeudicnlar  il  in  u)  place  tivieeds  16 
feet,  which  is,  however,  more  than  sufllc'ont  to  prevent  the  passage  of  boats.  At  the  foot  .>f  the  falls 
the  breadth  of  the  river  is  2,330  feet,  and  the  rate  of  the  current  is  4  miles  an  hour.  '  '  /<  brea<lth  is 
somewhat  narrowed  by  an  island,  about  midway  of  which  is  the  first  fall,  which  is  almost  nntirely 
nnbroken.  Thence  the  river  forces  its  way  over  a  rooky  bed  until  it  reaches  the  main  fall,  n  norn  the 
water  is  thrown  into  every  variety  of  shape  and  form,  resembling  the  boiling  of  a  kettle,  tiom  which 
the  falls  derive  their  name. 

"  There  is  an  Indian  village  on  the  banks  of  the  great  falls,  inhabited  by  a  few  families,  who  are 
called  "Qaiarlpi"  (Basket  People),  from  the  oiroumstauce  of  their  nsiug  baskets  to  catch  their  fish 
(salmon).  The  season  for  the  salmon  fishery  had  not  yet  [in  June  t]  arrived,  so  that  our  gentlemei. 
did  not  see  the  manner  of  taking  the  fish;  but  as  described  to  them,  the  fishing  apparatus  consists  of 
a  large  wicker  basket  supported  by  long  poles  inserted  into  it  and  fixed  in  the  rocks.  The  lower  part, 
which  is  of  the  basket  form,  is  joined  to  a  broad  frame,  spreading  above,  against  which  the  fish,  in 
attempting  to  jump  the  falh,  strike,  and  are  thrown  back  into  the  basket.  This  basket,  ''.uringthe 
fishing  season,  is  raised  three  times  in  the  day  (tweaty-fonr  hours),  and  at  each  haul,  not  uni'requently, 
contains  300  fine  fish.  A  division  of  these  takes  place  at  sunset  each  day,  nnder  the  direction  of  one 
of  the  chief  men  of  the  village,  and  to  each  family  is  allotted  the  number  it  may  be  entitled  to;  not 
only  the  resident  Indians,  but  all  who  may  be  there  fishing,  or  by  accident,  are  equally  included  in 
the  disti'ibntion. 

"  At  the  lower  end  of  the  falls  are  large  masses  of  quarts  rock,  on  which  the  Indians  dry  their  fish. 
Few  of  the  salmon,  even  U  able  to  pass  the  lower  fnll,  ever  got  by  the  npper  one,  being  generally 
caught  between  the  two  falls  ;  consequently,  above  tbis  place  no  salmon  are  taken,  A  short  distance 
below  the  Kettle  Falls  are  the  Thompson  Rapids,  which  begin  at  the  mouth  of  Mill  River,  and  extend 
for  some  distance  be^ow  that  point." 

This  visit  to  Kettle  Falls  and  eastern  Washington  was  made  by  Captain  Wilkes  in  1841,* 

Spokine  Siter. — The  Spokane  River  has  Its  source  in  CoBur  d'Alene  Lake,  in  Kootenai  Connty, 
Idaho,    From  the  northern  end  of  the  lake  the  river  flows  approximately  due  west  about  30  miles  to 


*  Narrative  of  the  United  States  Exploring  Expedition,  during  the  years  1838,  18Se,  1840, 1841,  and 
1842  ;  by  Charles  Wilkea,  U.  8.  Navy,  coinnmnder  of  the  expedition.  In  five  volumes.  Vol.  IV,  pp. 
444  and  445.    Pliiladvlphia,  Lea  &■  blauchard,  1845. 

fl.  Mis.  200 3 


34 


INVESTIGATIONS    IN   THE    COLUMUIA    KIV   i   BASIN. 


the  city  of  Spoknnp.  where  it  turns  to  the  northwest  and  flows  into  the  Colnrabia,  abont  45  or  50  miles 
distant.  Tlie  total  It'Tmth  of  tlio  Rpokime  Kiver  prolialily  txrceds  12")  miles,  as  its  rourso  is  extremely 
\viuilinn.  For  a  cousidoraldo  pint  of  its  coursii  it  Hows  through  vast  fields  of  lava,  into  which  it  has 
cut  a  doop  and  picturesque  channel.  The  stream  is  large  and  in  most  places  quite  ilcop;  the  bed  in 
many  places  is  strewn  with  large  granite  bowlders  or  large  irregular  masses  of  lava,  which  render 
seining  next  to  imi.ossiblc. 

About  6  miles  below  Cienr  il'Aleno  Lake  are  Post  Falls,  which  probably  do  not  interfere  with  the 
free  movement  of  lisli. 

In  the  ci' y  of  Spokane,  where  the  river  breaks  through  a  lava  flow,  there  are  several  very 
beautiful  falls  and  rapids,  which  have  been  modilicd  in  various  ways  in  utilizing  the  water  power  for 
milling  purposes.  These  obstructions,  natural  and  artificial,  aro  impassable  to  fish.  Salmon  find  no 
obstructions  in  the  Lower  Spokane  and  ascend  as  far  as  these  falls.  Formerly  salmon  were  said  to  bo 
abundant  as  far  up  as  the  falls,"  but  now  thny  are  seldom  seen  farther  up  than  the  month  of  the  Little 
Spokane.  This  strtiam  was  examined  in  and  near  the  city  of  Spokane  by  Mr.  B.  A.  Bean  in  October, 
1892,  and  by  Profs.  Evermaiin  and  Jenkins  August  19  and  20,  1893. 

The  water  is  clear,  cold,  and  pure.  The  only  contamination  is  that  from  the  uity  of  Spokane,  and 
that  does  not  seem  to  be  at  all  si^rious  as  yet.  An  abundance  of  fish  food,  such  as  insects  and  their 
:arve6,  small  moViiisks,  and  (crawfish,  was  noticed  in  this  river. 

Cceur  d'Alene  Lake.  — This  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  picturesque  lakes  in  Idaho,  It  is  very  irreg- 
<jlar  in  shape,  occupying,  as  it  does,  a  narrow  mountain  valley  together  with  'ts  lateral  ramifications. 
Its  greatest  length  from  north  to  south  is  probalily  not  less  than  22  miles,  whi!e  its  average  width  is 
less  than  3  miles.  The  Ooeiir  d'Alene,  St,  Josop'a,  and  other  mountain  streams  are  tributary  to  this 
lake,  the  outlet  of  which  is  Spokane  River,  Trout  are  abundant  and  of  excellent  quality  in  the  lake, 
but  salmon  are  not  known  to  occur  in  it.  The  numerous  falls  in  the  Spokane  Kiver  in  the  city  of 
Spokane  undoubtedly  prevent  the  ascent  of  salmon  to  Coeur  d'Alene  Lake.t  This  lake  was  lished 
August  21  near  the  outlet,  IJ  miles  westofCuiur  d'Alene.    Temperature  of  water  at  4  p.m.,  75°;  air,  86°. 

Ilaiigman  Creek. — This  is  an  unimportant  stream,  tributary  to  the  Spokane.  It  was  examined  in 
the  vicinity  of  Tekoa,  Wash.,  where  it  was  found  to  boa  small,  rather  lilthy  stream,  not  suitable  for 
trout  or  other  food-tishes,  but  well  supplied  with  minnows  and  suckers  of  several  species. 

•Regarding  the  salmon  fishing  at  these  falls  in  1841,  Capt.  Wilkes  ha-s  the  following: 
"The  number  of  Indians  actually  resident  about  the  falls  is  150;  but  during  the  height  of  the 
fishing  season  there  are  often  nearly  1,000,  consisting  of  all  the  Spokane  tribe,  who  are  goneroUy 
induiled  under  the  name  of  the  Flatheads.  They  subsist  for  the  most  part  ou  roots,  fish,  berries,  and 
game.  At  the  opening  of  the  spring,  in  March  and  Ajiril,  or  as  soon  ivs  the  snow  disajipears,  they  begin 
to  searcli  for  a  root  resembling  tlie  oammass,  wliWh  they  'ill  pox-pox.  This  lasts  thorn  till  the 
beginning  of  May,  when  it  gives  place  to  a  bitter  ni'it,  tormeil  spatylon.  This  is  a  slender  and  white 
root,  not  unlike  vermicelli  iu  appearance,  and  when  lioiled  it  disholves  into  a  white  jolly,  like  arrow- 
root. It  has  a  bitter  but  not  disagrcealdo  llavor,  and  is  re.hiarUable  for  growing  in  gravelly  soils 
where  notliingelse  will  thrive.  Iu  June  the  il/wa,  orcammass.  comes  in  season,  .and  is  found  in  greater 
quantities  than  the  others  all  over  the  country,  particularly  in  the  meadow  grounds.  This  root  was 
thought  by  many  of  us  to  have  the  taste  of  boiled  chestnuts.  Before  this  fails  the  salmon  make  their 
appearance,  and  during  the  summer  months  the  Indians  enjoy  a  very  plentiful  supply  of  food.  While 
the  men  are  emplovcd  fishing,  the  women  are  busy  digging  the  cammass,  which  may  be  termed  the 
principal  occupation  of  the  two  sexes.  Thoy  devote  a  portion  of  their  time  to  the  collection  of  berries, 
a  work  which  is  principally  the  duty  of  the  younger  part  of  the  tribes. 

"In  September  and  October  the  salmon  still  claim  their  attention,  although  they  are,  after  having 
deposited  their  rocs,  ([uite  exhausted  and  about  to  perish,  yet  these  are  dried  fur  their  winter  consump- 
tion, and  unless  they  had  recourse  to  these  much  want  would  ensue,  which  is  always  the  case  if  the 
salmon  shtmld  bo  scarce." 


,  iu  that  it  shows  that 
le  ascent  of  salmon  to 


♦  The  Indian  legend  given  in  Wilkes' Niir^ative,  vol.  iv,  p.449,  is  interestin 
the  falls  at  Spokane  have  always  been  regarded  by  the  Indians  as  a  barrier  tc 
(Jteur  d'Alene  Lake. 

"Thoy  have,  in  common  with  the  other  tribes,  many  traditions  coniiecled  with  the  rivers  and 
remarkable  features  of  their  country.  In  these  the  prairie  wolf  bears  always  runspicuous  part.  This 
wolf  was  not  an  olijoct  of  worship,  but  was  supposed  to  he  endowed  with  Hii]iornatural  powers,  and 
to  exert  them  in  many  ways.  On  one  occasion  it  is  related  that  the  wdH'  wae,  desirous  of  having  a 
wife,  and  visit«d  the  tribes  on  the  Spokane  for  that  purpose,  demanding  :i  young  woman  in  marriage. 
This  request  being  granted,  he  priuiiised  ihat  the  salmon  should  be  abumlaut,  and  for  this  purpose  hu 
rnised  the  rapids,  that  they  might  bo  caught  with  facility.  After  he  had  been  gratified  iu  this  first 
instance  he  made  the  same  request  of  the  others,  among  them  of  the  Skotsiii  (C'o>ur  d'Alene)  tribe, 
who  were  the  only  ones  to  refuse.  He  thereupon  termed  the  great  falls  of  the  Spokane,  wblolt  have 
ever  since  prevented  the  fish  from  asoendlng  to  their  territory.'' 


Salmon  Fisheries  of  the  Columb  .   ^  'ci.     (To  face  pagtj  3*  I 


Plate  VII. 


CANON    OF   SPOKANE,   HiVER,    THREE   MILES   BELOW   bPOKANE    WASHINGTON 


1893. 

Counl 

its   -w 

borde 

netw( 

pines 

inche 

Augn 

watei 

veget 

Unioi 

dant, 

as  is 

trout 

at  th< 

theL 

dam  I 

quite 

Stone 


are  i 
uneai 
nnml 
hem 
andS 


ofth 
Falls 
Ings 
Line 

civiV 
thet 
oft! 
strea 


Paso 

bars 

and 

ermi 

salm 

and 

pies 

fort 

side 

saw 

20th 

last 

not' 

raib 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA   RIVER    HASIN. 


85 


TAIllt  Spokang  Riv«r. — This  was  visited  by  Mr.  Barton  A.  Bean  in  1892,  and  by  n«  Aiignst  18, 
1893.  Tlie  Little  Spokane  riaes  among  tlie  low  hills  in  a  system  of  small  streams  and  lakes  in  Stcirens 
Connty,  Wash.,  only  4  or  5  miles  from  the  Pend  d'Oroillo  River.  Fed,  as  it  ia,  by  niiuierous  sprinfrg, 
its  water  is  very  clear  and  oold.  It  flows  through  a  narrow,  fertile  valley,  the  low  meadows 
bordering  it  having  a  black  loamy  soil.  The  immediatu  banks  are  i'lr  the  most  part  oovored  with  a 
network  of  brashes.  High  hills  rise  on  either  side  of  the  valley  and  thoy  are  sparsely  I'overed  with 
pines.    Such  trees  as  cottonwoo<l,  maples,  and  alders  are  common  along  .''he  banks. 

At  Dart's  mill,  where  the  Little  Spokane  was  examined  by  us,  it  averi.(res  about  40  feet  wide,  "20 
inches  deep  (on  the  ripples),  and  had  a  current  of  2i  feet  per  second.  Th(  temperature  at  2  p,  m,, 
August  18,  was  63° .  The  bottom  there  was  of  coarse  gravel  in  most  places.  Just  above  tlie  dam  the 
water  was,  of  course,  deeper  and  the  bottom  is  of  sand  and  soft  mud.  Here  we  found  such  water 
vegetation  as  Ranuitcului  aqiiatilut  triohophyllut,  and  Afiiriophiillum  in  abun(^ance.  A  single  species  of 
Unionidie,  Margaritana  margaritifera  was  not  nncommon  at  this  place.  Fishe.<  were  also  rather  abun- 
dant, some  8  or  10  species  being  obtained.  The  Little  Spokane  is  an  excellent  salmon  nix^  trout  stream, 
as  is  fully  evidenced  by  the  great  abni'dance  of  salmonoid  fishes  which  we  found.  The  cat-throat 
trout  was  abundant,  as  were  also  young  whitellsh.  Large  whitefish  {Coregonut  mlliamson'.)  were  seen 
at  the  dam  at  the  mill,  where  Indians  were  spearing  them  with  Mr  success.  Salmon  are  said  to  enter 
the  Little  Spokane  in  considerable  nnmbers  even  yet,  but  much  less  abundantly  than  formerly.  The 
dam  at  Dart's  mill  interferes  with  their  farther  ascent  and  a  flshway  should  be  put  in.  Salmon  were 
quite  abundant  in  this  stream  in  1882,  as  reported  by  Mr.  Laue  C.  Qilliam,  of  Spokane,  to  Mr.  Livingtton 
Stone.* 

Mr.  Oilliam  says : 

"I  have  jnst  sompleted  my  second  trip  to  the  Little  Spokane,  and  as  yet  no  salmon  to  speak  of 
are  ranning.  The  Indians,  who  are  encamped  hero  in  great  numbers,  anticipating  a  large  run,  are 
uneasy  and  fear  the  iish  are  not  coming.  Yesterday  morning  they  caught  eight,  which  was  the  largest 
nnmber  taken  at  any  one  time  as  yet.  A  white  man  living  in  the  neighborhood  told  rae  that  last  year 
he  made  a  rongh  estimate  of  the  salmon  taken  by  the  Indians.  He  thinks  they  had  between  40,001) 
and  50,000  drying  at  one  time,  about  October  1.    I  will  make  another  investigation  about  October  1." 

In  the  same  letter  reporting  this  information  to  Prof.  Baird,  Mr.  Stone  says: 

"Theresultof  my  researches  on  the  Snake  River  are  that  no  salmon  ascend  as  high  as  the  orossiag 
of  the  Utah  and  Northern  Railroad,  and  that  there  tire  no  salmon  as  high  as  the  foot  of  the  Ameriiian 
Falls  on  the  Oregon  Short  Line.  The  salmon  probably  can  not  get  over  Shoshone  Falls.  In  the  span  n  - 
ing  season  there  are  a  great  many  salmon  at  the  foot  of  these  falls,  27  raiioi  from  the  Oregon  Short 
Line  Railroad." 

It  should  be  added  that  the  character  pf  thijB  stream  is  being  materially  changed  by  the  advent  of 
civilization,  a  fact  which  is,  or  has  been,  true  of  most  streams  of  this  country.  The  cutting  away  of 
the  timber  and  brush  on  the  immediate  banks  and  the  cultivation  of  the  land  within  the  drainage  area 
of  the  stream  have  greatly  increased  the  surface  erosion  and,  in  oonseqnence,  the  impurit'-~  -^f  the 
stream. 

LOWER  COLUMBIA  RITKB. 


Very  little  work  was  dons  by  as  on  the  Lower  Columbia.  Some  fishing  was  done  Angnst  32  at 
Pasco,  near  the  railroad  bridge  1  mile  east  of  town,  where  we  made  twelve  hauls  on  sand  and  gravel 
bars  on  both  sides  of  the  river  in  water  from  1  to  5  feet  deep.  Took  very  few  fish.  Water  very  clear 
and  oold.  Rooks  nearly  free  from  algn.  Mr.  John  E.  Oantenheim,  an  educated  and  intelligent  fish- 
erman of  Pasco,  says  that  he  fishes  every  year  at  the  mouth  of  the  Snake  and  Yakima  rivers.  The 
salmon  bite  readily  at  a  spoon  and  arr  in  good  condition  for  eating.  They  are  oanght  by  trolling  only, 
and  bite  greedily,  even  when  full  of  eggs.  Their  stomachs  are  always  empty.  They  spawn  on  the  rip* 
pies  near  the  mouths  of  the  Snake  and  the  Yakima  rivers.  Mr.  Oantenheim  caught  his  first  salmon 
for  this  season  on  August  20.  It  was  the  first  he  knew  of  as  being  caught  this  year.  It  was  a  silver- 
side  (0.  kUiitckl),  aud  he  took  it  from  the  Columbia  River  near  the  mouth  of  the  Yakima.  We 
saw  three  salmon  while  at  the  river.  Mr.  Oantenheim  says  that  th^  salmon  begin  their  run  about  the 
20th  of  August,  are  at  their  best  daring  September,  and  last  until  the  high  water  in  October.  The 
last  ones  are  spent  and  not  good  eating.  He  calls  the  ones  he  catches  silversides  and  chinooks.  Does 
not  know  of  other  forms.  Though  nuiny  fish  are  caught,  none  are  shipped  to  the  canneriea  beoanse  of 
railroad  charges.   It  is  probable  that  some  of  the  salmon  which  are  caught  by  trolling  are steelheada. 


>I}uU.  U.  B.  Fish  Com.  for  1883, 


36 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN    IHB   COLUMBIA    RIVER   BASIN. 


Walla  Walla  River. — This  is  a  river  of  some  iinportauce  flowing  into  tbo  (Jolumbin  at  the  town  of 
Wallula,  about  30  miles  west  of  Walla  Walla.  It  was  exaiaiaed  August  23,  at  Wallula,  below  the 
railroad  bridge.  It  is  here  a  good-sized  stream,  3  to  8  feet  deep  in  tlie  cliauuel,  and  has  a  velocity  of 
about  one-half  foot  per  second.  Temperature  at  noon,  70° ;  air,  80°.  The  bod  of  the  stream  was  of 
soft  mad,  with  an  abundance  of  Chara  and  other  vegetation  iu  places,  and  the  wat«r  was  rather 
muddy.  At  this  place  Messrs.  Thoburn  and  Ratter  obtained  the  only  spccimona  of  Columbia  trana- 
montana  that  were  secured  by  any  of  us. 

Mill  Creek. — This  is  a  small  stream,  tributary  to  the  Walla  Walla  River  near  Walla  Walla.  It 
was  examined  August  14  south  of  Walla  Walla  one  half  mile.  Width,  12  feet;  depth,  10  inches;  cur- 
rent, H  feet.  Temperature  at  8:30  a.  m.,  56°;  air,  73°.  The  bottom  here  is  of  coarse  gravel.  We 
could  not  learn  that  salmon  are  ever  taken  iu  this  stream. 

Umatilla  liiver. — The  Umatilla  River  was  examined  Angnst  23  near  its  mouth,  and  on  August  12 
near  Pendleton,  Oreg.  At  Pendleton  it  had  an  average  width  of  25  feet,  depth  of  14  inches,  aud  a 
velocity  of  1  foot.  Temperature  at  11  a.  m.,  70°.  The  bottom  was  of  coarse  gravel  covered  with  algie, 
and  the  water  was  clear.  Mr.  Smith,  of  the  Commercial  Stables  at  Pendleton,  says  that  no  saluioa  come 
as  far  up  the  river  as  Pendleton.  He  has  never  known  any  salmon  to  occur  there.  They  probably 
occur  in  the  lower  part  of  the  stream,  but  we  could  get  no  reliable  information  upon  the  matter. 

Dee  Chutes  liiver. — This  is  a  aonthern  tributary  of  the  Columbia,  into  which  it  flows  at  a  distance 
of  10  or  15  miles  above  The  Dalles.  It  was  visited  August  24.  The  falls  of  Des  Chutes  Kiver,  located 
near  its  mouth,  are  about  30  feet  high  iu  low  water;  in  high  water  a  series  of  rapids.  Id  the  Des 
Chutes  the  ditterence  between  high  and  low  water  marks  varies  from  40  to  90  feet,  according  to  the 
width  of  the  river.  The  highest  water  is  about  .June  20,  the  lowest  during  the  coldest  part  of  the 
winter.  Salmon  usually  find  the  falls  no  obstruction.  Numerous  salmon  are  said  to  ran  up  the  John 
Day  River.  They  are  caught  in  large  numbers  by  the  Indians,  but  we  find  no  authentic  information 
concerning  their  spawning. 

Takima  River. — The  Yakima  is  a  good-sized  stream,  rising  in  numerous  lakes  near  Snoqualmio 
Pass,  southeast  of  Seattle  about  50  miles,  and  flowing  southeast  about  150  miles  to  Pasco,  where  it 
joins  the  Columbia.  At  Ellensburg  and  North  Yakiraa,  where  this  river  was  visited  by  Dr.  Jenkins, 
it  runs  through  a  broad,  fertile  valley,  and  its  waters  are  extensively  used  for  irrigation  purposes. 
At  EUenpburg  the  stream  is  about  160  feet  wide  and  10  feet  deep,  and  flows  about  1  foot  per  second. 
The  water  is  clear  and  cold;  its  temperature  at  9  a.  m.,  August  24,  was  60°.  At  North  Yakima  the 
stream  is  very  clear  aud  flows  with  a  rapid  current  through  an  open  valley,  over  gravel  and  sand,  and 
had  a  temperature  of  64°.  The  Yakima  has  many  important  tributaries,  in  all  of  which  trout  are  said 
to  abound. 

Wilson  Creek  near  Ellensburg  had  an  average  width  of  about  18  feet,  depth  of  18  inches,  and  a 
current  of  2  feet  per  second. 

Manistash  Creek  empties  iu  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Yakima  near  Ellensburg.  For  a  few  miles 
above  its  mouth  nearly  all  the  water  is  taken  out  for  irrigation  purposes.  Six  miles  from  Ellensburg 
it  comos  through  a  canon  into  the  valley.  At  this  point  it  is  a  fine  stream,  abounding  in  trout.  It  is 
here  25  feet  wide,  with  a  velocity  of  about  3  feet  per  second.  The  water  is  clear  and  excellent. 
The  tempcature  at  11  a.  m.  was  55°.  Below  this  point,  about  2  miles  from  its  mouth,  where  most  of 
thjj  water  >d  taken  out  for  irrigation,  tlie  stream  was  about  6  feet  wide,  with  an  average  depth  of  6 
inches  and  a  velocity  of  one-half  foot  per  second.    Temperature,  58°  at  9:45  a.  m. 

The  Yakima  was  visited  also  at  Prosscn,  at  which  point  there  is  a  low  fall  of  some  3  or  4  feet, 
with  a  long  gentle  ripple  above  it.  The  fall  would  form  no  obstacle  to  the  ascent  of  salmon  unless  at 
time  of  very  low  water.  The  temperature  was  70°  at  10  a.  m.  At  North  Yakima  the  Yakima  receives 
one  of  its  principal  afiSuents  from  the  west.  This  is  the  Natchess  River,  which  takes  its  rise  among 
the  gnowflelds  of  Mount  Ranier  and  Cowlitz  Pass.  This  is  a  clear,  cold  stream,  admirably  snited  to 
trout.  In  its  lower  course  such  common  species  aa  the  chisel-mouth  {Aorocheiliu  alutaceui),  Jgoiia 
Hubila,  and  Fantosieus  jordani  were  found.  Those  acquainted  with  the  facts  state  that  formerly,  up 
to  about  1885,  salmon  of  three  or  four  kinds,  including  the  quinnat,  ran  up  the  Yakima  Kiver  to  this 
valley  and  spawned  in  the  river  in  great  numbers.    At  present  very  few  make  their  appearance. 

CotvliU  liiver. — The  Cowlitz  River,  made  famous  in  Dr.  Jordan's  delightfully  interesting  "Story 
of  a  Salmon,"  has  its  sources  in  the  snowflelds  on  the  west  slopes  of  Mount  Ranier,  and  flows  through 
the  densely  wooded  country  west  of  the  Cascades  for  more  than  100  miles  before  it  Joins  the  Columbia. 
This  region  is  very  moist  and  is  little  suited  to  agriculture,  aud  the  stream  will  never  be  needed  for 
inigation.    The  Cowlitz  was  visited  by  us  at  Castle  Rock.    It  is  there  a  very  deep,  slnggish  stream, 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE    COLUMBIA   RIVER   BASIN. 


37 


extensively  nsed  for  rartiug  lumber.  It  had  a  tomperuture  of  about  G0°,  August  25.  Salmon  ascend 
the  stream  in  large  numbers  to  anil  above  Castle  Rock.  Tbey  nmke  tbt'ir  appearuuce  in  the  fall  about 
the  first  of  September,  and  are  caught  by  the  ton  at  Castle  Hnck  nud  at  numerous  points  below.  We 
were  Informed  that  two  kinds  of  salmon  are  taken,  quii  uat  and  the  silver  salmon.  The  i|uinnat  makes 
its  appearance  first,  and  is,  according  to  reports,  obtained  iu  great  numbers.  We  do  not  know  how 
jafely  one  may  rely  upon  the  reports  of  the  flshormen,  however. 

Toutle  River. — Toutle  River  is  a  tine,  clear  stream  entering  the  Cowlitz  fi  om  the  east,  about  4 
miles  above  Castle  Kock.  It  was  visited  by  us  2  miles  above  its  mouth,  i  t  that  point  it  was 
about  100  feet  wide,  averaging  perhaps  1  to  IJ  feet  deep,  and  was  llowing  ra]iidly  over  rounded 
bowlders  and  stones  of  email  size.  Its  current  was  perhaps  1^  or  2  feet  per  second.  At  II  a.  ni.  the 
temperature  was  69^°.  The  stream  flows  through  a  very  sparsely  inhabited  country.  A  few  miners 
and  a  larger  number  of  lumbermen  live  on  its  upper  course.  It  flows  everywhere  through  a  dense  <ir 
forest,  in  which  are  some  deciduous  trees.  All  agree  that  the  salmon  ascend  this  stream  yearly  in 
large  numbers. 

In  addition  to  the  investigations  which  were  made  in  the  Colnmbia  River  basin,  some  little  work 
was  done  on  streams  tributary  to  Puget  Souud,  or  which  flow  directly  into  the  Puciflc.  Drs.  Gilbert 
and  Jenkins  examined  Newaukum  and  Skookumchuck  rivers,  and  in  June,  1892,  Prof.  Evermanu  spent 
parts  of  two  days  examining  Lake  Washington  at  Seattle,  and  the  Suoqualmie  River  In  the  vicinity 
of  Snoqualmie  Falls. 

NEWAUKUM  KIVEB. 

This  stream  is  a  small  tributary  of  Chehalis  River,  into  which  it  flows  near  the  town  of  Chehalis. 
It  was  visited  near  its  mouth  August  27. 

SKOOKUMCHUCK  KIVKB. 

This  river  rises  on  the  divide  near  the  headwaters  of  the  Newaukum,  and,  flowing  to  the  north- 
west, empties  into  an  arm  of  Puget  Sound  near  old  Fort  Steilacoom. 

The  Newaukum  and  the  Skookumchuck  are  both  interesting  as  having  furnished  us  uiauy 
specimens  of  young  dog  salmon.  They  were  found  in  both  of  these  streams  iu  abundance  and  were 
evidently  the  young  of  the  preceding  year. 

LAKE  WASHINGTON. 

This  lake  is  a  magnificent  body  of  fresh  water,  extending  for  more  than  20  miles  north  and 
south.  Just  east  of  Seattle.  Some  collecting  was  done  here  on  June  25,  1892.  Nothing  was  found, 
however,  except  two  or  three  species  of  CypHnida  and  a  nnmher  of  blobs, 

,       •  SNOQUALMIB  KTVER. 

This  river  rises  nearTakima  and  Snoqualmie  passes  and,  flowing  westward,  joins  .be  Snohomish, 
which  in  turn  flows  into  the  Sound.  The  Snoqualmie  was  visited  June  26  and  27,  1892,  and  a  small 
oolleotiou  of  fishes  obtained.  At  the  falls  this  river  was  150  to  200  feet  wide  aud  about  6  feet  deep, 
entirely  too  deep  for  seining,  only  occasional  shallow  places  being  found  where  the  seine  could  be 
drawn.  At  Snoqualmie  Falls  the  river  descends  268  feet  in  a  single  plunge.  Trout,  however,  are 
abundant  both  above  and  below  the  falls.  The  only  other  species  obtained  were  a  few  minnows  and 
suckers.  We  were  unable  to  secure  uuy  reliable  loformatioB  M  to  the  oooorieuce  of  salmon  iu  Sno- 
qualmie Biver  oi  in  Lak«  Waakingtoaa 


■*;  i  It,*'..'- ?,  v-i 


M\ 


38 


INVESTIGATIONS    IN    THK    COLl'MlilA    RIVKR    BASIN. 


NOTES  ON  THE  FISHES  OF  THE  COLUMBIA  RIVER  BASIN,  WITH  DESCRIPTIONS 

OF  FOUR  NEW  SPECIES. 

In  the  following  notes  on  the  flshea  of  the  Columbia  River  basin  we  have  incliuUMl 
not  only  those  collected  by  us,  but  also  the  small  collections  made  by  Mcssia.  Uoaii 
and  Wool  man  in  18'J2,  and  the  few  species  obtained  in  Xcwaukum  and  Skookuin- 
( liuck  rivers  by  Drs.  Gilbert  and  Jenkins,  and  in  Lake  Washington  and  Snoquahuie 
Hiver  in  1892. 

The  exact  status  of  several  of  the  species  of  Salmonida,  as  well  as  some  of  the 
minnows  and  suckers  and  all  the  Gottidw  of  this  region,  is  a  matter  which  will  require 
much  additional  investigation  to  determine.  Most  of  the  forms  which  have  been 
regarded  as  good  species  are' but  poorly  differentiated.  The  range  of  variation  seems 
to  be  very  great,  and  characters  which  are  of  undoubted  specific  value  when  applied 
to  Atlantic-drainage  species,  do  not  possess  any  such  value  for  classification  of  Pacifl<'. 
coast  fishes.  Each  so-called  species  seems  to  be  in  a  very  unstable  state  of  equilib- 
rium, and  not  to  have  yet  assumed  or  been  able  to  retain  with  any  degree  of  permanence 
any  set  of  specific  characters.  This  is  particularly  true  of  the  species  of  Agonia,  Gatoa- 
tomtis,  Salmo,  and,  possibly,  Oncorhynvhus. 

In  sequence  of  species  in  this  paper  we  follow  Jordan's  Catalogue  of  Fishes  of 
North  America,  1885. 

1.  BntosphenuB  tridentatus  (Gairdner).     Three-toothed  Lamprey, 

Petromyzon  tridentatus  Gairdner  MS.,  Richardaoii,  Fauna   Boreali- Americana,  293,  1836.    Type 
locality:  Falls  of  Walamet  (Willamette)  Kiver. 

Petromyzon  lividui  Girard,  P.  R.  R.  Survey,  379,  1858.    Type  locality:  Wahlahmath  (V.'Ulamette) 
River,  Oregon. 

Petromyzon  a$tori  Girard,  loo.  cit.,  380.    Type  locality:  Astoria,  Oregon. 

This  lamprey  was  iirst  scon  by  us  at  Lower  Salmon  Falls,  on  Snake  River,  on  Angnst  8. 
Over  40  sipocimons  were  here  found  dead  on  a  sand  bar  below  the  falls.  They  had  probably 
died  the  night  before,  and  had  been  deposited  on  the  spit,  where  buzzards  were  busily  feasting 
on  them  when  we  arrived.  We  were  informed  that  the  lampreys  in  their  upward  migration 
reach  this  point  in  tlio  river  sometime  during  July,  after  the  water  has  begun  to  go  down. 
They  are  said  to  make  good  sturgeon  bait,  aud  can  be  best  caught  in  the  evening  or  in  the 
early  morning,  when  they  are  found  clinging  to  the  rocks  at  the  falls.  On  August  11,  a  large 
number  of  decayed  specimens  was  found  on  the  banks  of  the  Umatilla  River  at  its  month. 
They  were  high  up  on  the  banks,  and  had  apparently  died  and  drifted  ashore  several  weeks 
before,  at  a  time  when  the  river  was  higher.  They  ascend  the  Umatilla,  and  are  eaughtby  the 
Indians  for  food,  Onedeadspecimon  wasseenatPendleton.  A  number  of  larvu),!^  to  2  inches 
long,  were  taken  from  debris  in  the  bottom  of  a  pool  in  the  Natchess  River  at  North  Yakima. 

The  lampreys  are  well  known  to  the  owners  of  salmon-wheels  on  the  Lower  Snake  and  the 
Columbia,  and  are  universally  called  eels.  At  Lewiston,  we  learned  that  the  lampre.vs 
begin  their  run  very  early,  being  already  in  the  stream  when  the  salmon-wheel  is  first  put  in 
place  in  the  spring.  They  are  occasionally  caught  by  these  wheels  in  such  numbers  as  to  fill 
the  boat,  and  are  said  to  be  valuable  for  the  oil  they  contain.  This  lamprey  waa  seen  also  by 
Dr,  Eigenmann,  at  La  Grande  and  Caldwell,  in  1892, 

2.  Aolpenser  transmontanus  Richardson.     Columbia  Jiirer  Sturgeon, 

Aeiftnser  tranemontanus  Richardson,  Fauna  Boreali-Americana,  ill,  278,  1836.    Type  locality: 
Columbia  River  at  Fort  Vancouver. 

The  sturgeon  ascends  the  Snake  River  to  above  the  Upper  Salmon  Falls,  between  which 
and  Anger  Falls  it  is  frequently  taken.  We  were  unable  to  learn  that  they  passed  the 
Anger  Falls,  which  apparently  serve  as  a  barrier  to  l  .uu  sturgeon  and  salmon.  We  are 
Informed  by  numerous  tisheriiien  that  the  stnrgeon  are  in  the  river  tlirongliout  the  year,  and 
oin  be  taken  at  any  season.  They  are  found  at  Glen's  Ferry  throughout  the  year,  and  we 
were  told  of  individuals  taken  ther4  weighing  as  much  as  600  to  800  pounds.  No  definite 
information  08  to  their  spawning  season  oould  be  secured. 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA    KIVEU   BASIN. 


39 


.  PantoateuB  Jordan!  Evennauii. 

Paiitoiteiu  jurdani  Kvermaiui,  Bull.  U.  8.  Full.  Comm.  for  1892,  January  27, 1893, 51.  Type  locality: 

Red  Kock  liivor,  Ked  Rock,  Moiitnim. 
Pantotleui  columbiantti  Eigeumaiiu  &.  lOigenmanii,  American  Naturalist,  February  4,  1893,  151. 
Type  locality:  Boise  Kiver,  Caldwell,  Idahu. 

Keoeut  explorations  of  the  Fish  Coiniuissiuii  have  shown  this  sucker  to  be  an  abundant 
•pecies  in  the  region  about  the  Black  Hills  in  South  Dakota  and  Wyoming.  Ur.  Ki^eunianu 
was  the  first  to  obtain  it  in  the  Columbia  Basin,  hu  having  found  it  at  Caldwoll,  Idaho,  in 
1892.  During  our  investigations  we  found  this  to  bo  an  ubuudaut  .ind  widoly  distributed 
•pecies  in  the  Columbia  Basin.  Specimens  wore  obtained  by  us  at  the  loUowing  places: 
Snake  River  at  Idaho  Falls,  1;  Ross  Fork  near  Pucatello,  49;  Boise  River  at  Caldwell,  4; 
Payette  River  at  Payette,  13;  Umatilla  River  at  Pendleton,  3;  Columbia  River  at  Umatilla, 
1;  Natchu.Hs  River  near  North  Yakima,  9.  A  comparison  of  these  spooimuus  with  a  largo 
series  from  various  places  in  the  Missouri  River  Basin  shows  them  to  be  speoitlRally  identical. 
Young  examples  from  Payette,  Caldwell,  and  elsewhere,  agree  perfuutly  with  Dr.  Eigenmaun's 
descriptiou  of  P.  columbianut.  The  dorsal  rays  vary  from  10  to  13;  the  scales  from  82  to  107. 
Catoatomus  catostomuB  (Forster). 
Cyprinui  oatoatomui  Forster,  Philos.  Trans.,  1773,  155,    Type  locality:  Streams  about  Hudson  Bay. 

S]>eciment  from  Little  Wood  River,  Shoshone,  Idaho,  25 ;  Ross  Fork  near  Pooatullo,  Idaho, 
10;  Payette  River,  Payette,  Idaho,  2;  Cusur  d'Aleno  Lake,  Cusur  d'Aleue,  Idaho,  7;  Umatilla 
Biver,  Pendleton,  Oreg.,  4;  Columbia  River,  Umatilla,  Greg.,  1;  Pataha  River,  Starbunk, 
Wash.,  3;  Mill  Cieek,  Wulla  Walla,  81;  Creek  at  Sand  Point,  Idaho,  38. 

D.  11  or  12;  scales,  90  to  104. 

This  species  diflfers  from  laiipinnis,  griieui,  and  catoitomui  (Evermann;  Eigenmanu)  in  its 
thin  and  rather  narrow  lower  lip,  which  is  incised  for  but  little  over  half  its  dupth.    'I'wo  well- 
separated  series  of  large  papillse  cross  the  lip  between  base  of  iucisiou  and  sheath. 
Catostomus  pocatello  sp.  nov.    Moo-gad-ee  of  the  Fort  Hall  Indians.    (PI.  ix.) 

Type  locality:  Ross  Fork  of  Snake  River  near  Pocatello,  Idaho,  where  18  spncimi^ns  were 
collected  August  4,  1893.  Type,  No.  45385,  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  Co-types,  No.  45386,  U.  8.  Nat. 
Mns,,  and  Nos.  1135  to  1141,  Museum  Lnlaad  Stanford  Junior  University. 

Related  to  Catottomm  catottomut  (Forster). 

Description:  Head,  4;  depth,  5;  eye,  4J;  snout,  2i;  interorbital  width,  2J;  D.  10;  A.  7; 
■cales,  19-95-14,  abont  50  before  the  dorsal.  Body  moderately  stout;  head  heavy;  snout  not 
very  pointed;  eye  rather  large — larger  than  in  any  related  species,  its  diameter  2^  in  snont 
or  2^  in  iuterorbital  width;  eye  placed  high;  middle  of  pupil  alittlo  nearer  posteriiiredgeo 
opercle  than  to  tip  of  snout.  Mouth  narrow;  upper  lip  rather  thick,  but  not  pendent,  with 
three  definite  I'ows  of  papillie ;  lower  lip  incised  nearly  to  base,  a  single  scries  of  small  papillie 
between  sheath  and  b-ose  of  incision;  lobes  of  lower  lip  short  and  rounded;  cartilaginous 
sheath  of  lips  rather  strongly  developed.  Scales  small,  crowded,  and  very  much  reduced  in 
size  on  anterior  part  of  body;  lateral  line  imperfect.  Origin  of  dorsal  fin  midway  between 
tip  of  snout  and  base  of  oandal  rays;  greatest  height  of  dorsal  fin  H  in  head,  its  free  edge 
very  slightly  concave.  Height  of  anal  a  little  greater  than  that  of  dorsal,  If  in  head;  pointed, 
reaching  base  of  caudal  fin.  Pectoral  about  equal  to  anal;  ventral  1}  in  head.  Peritoneum 
silvery,  with  dark  punctulations.    Air-bladder  large. 

Color  in  alcohol,  dark  olivaceous  above,  and  on  sides  to  below  lateral  line  somewhat 
mottled  with  darker;  under  parts  pale.    Length,  150 millimeters. 

An  examination  of  the  series  of  eighteen  specimens  shows  some  variation.    Head,  3§  to  4 ; 
:    depth,  6  to  5^ ;  eye,  4|to  5-4  in  young;  snout,  2^  to  2^2^  in  young.    The  number  of  dorsal  rays 
.  Is  nsually  10,  but  in  one  example  there  are  but  9.    There  is  considerable  variation  in  number 
of  scales  in  the  lateral  line,  the  number  in  eleven  examples  counted  being  90,  93,  93,  95,  96,  9(i, 
100, 101,  105,  106,  107,  and  108,  respectively ;  the  lateral  line  is  frequently  irregular  and  imper- 
fectly developed. 

f^om  Catottomut  catottomut,  which  this  species  resembles,  it  differs  in  its  larger  eye,  fuller 
lower  lip,  and  somewhat  larger  head.  These  characters  may  all  prove  unreliable,  however. 
From  C.  griteut  and  C.  latipinnit  of  the  same  size  it  differs  in  its  narrower  upper  lip  and  larger 
•ye,  as  well  as  in  other  minor  characters. 


40 


INVEBTIUATION8   IN    THE   COLUMBIA    KIVER    BASIN. 


TbiH  npecieH  wa8  I'uiiiiil  only  in  lioitH  h'ork  Jiitit  above  tho  Kort,  Hull  Indian  Agency.    It 
dneH  not  Heem  to  be  very  comiiion,  as  a  day's  collisctiiif;  in  tliix  Atrriirn  roHiiltNd  in  taking 
only  18  specimens  of  the  specios.    It  apparently  does  not  attain  a  length  of  more  than  6  to 
8  inrhes.    The  Indian  name  Moo-gad-ee  moans  iiicker,  or  that  whioh  tuclu. 
CatoBtomus  maorooheilus  Qirard. 

Catoitomiu  macrocheiltu  Oirard,  Proo,  Acad.  Nat.  Soi.  Pbila.  18r)6,  175.    Type  locality :  Astoria, 
Oregon. 

Specimens  obtained  from  Payette  River  at  Payette,  5;  Boise  River  at  Caldwell,  17; 
Clearwater  Creek  at  Lewiston,  2;  Hnncman  Creek  at  Tekoa,  6;  Hangman  Creek  at  Spo- 
kane, 1;  Pataha  Kiver  at  Starbnuk,  7;  Wtilla  Walla  Kivnr  at  VVallnIn,  5;  Colville  Kiver  near 
ColviUe,  10;  Umatilla  Kiver  at  Pendleton,  2;  Snake  liiver,  at  Payette,  2;  Columbia  River  at 
Umatilla,  1;  Skooknmohnck  River  near  Centralia,  7;  Post  Creek,  St.  Ignatius  Mission,  Mout., 
1;  Pend  d'Oreille  River,  Newport,  Idaho,  19. 

This  is  the  common  sucker  of  the  Colnmbia  and  Lower  Snake  rivers,  and  large  numbers 
were  flreqnently  seen  feeding  in  the  shallow  waters  along  shore.  In  25  specimens  the  dorsal 
rays  were  as  follows:  Thirteen  rays  in  1  specimen,  14  in  15,  15  in  8,  16  in  1.  Scales  67  to  70. 
The  four  specimens  reported  by  Eigenmunu  from  Idaho  Falls  are  more  likely  referable  to  C, 
ardent;  C.  maerocheilut  probably  does  not  occur  in  the  Upper  Snake. 
Catoatomus  ardena  Jordan  &  Gilbert. 
Catoitomui  ardent  Jordan  &,  Gilbert,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mns.  1880,  464.  Type  locality;  Utah  Lake, 
ProTO,  Utah. 

Six  specimens  from  Mink  Creek,  near  Pocatello,  are  identified  with  this  species.  No  adults 
of  C.  ardent  were  obtained,  and  the  status  of  ardent  and  macrocheilut  in  the  Columbia  can  not 
be  determined  nntil  a  larger  series  is  available  for  comparison.  In  all  suckers  of  this  type 
thus  far  taken  f^om  Snake  River  above  the  falls,  including  those  from  President  Camp  and 
trom  Heart  Lake,  the  dorsal  fin  is  small,  containing  but  11,  12,  or  13  rays;  and  tho  caudal 
peduncle  is  thicker  than  in  specimens  o{  macrocheilut  of  equal  size.  Monsuroments  of  our 
■pecimens  are  given  in  the  following  table: 


CoU.No. 

Head. 

Depth. 

Eye. 

Snoat. 

Dorsal. 

Anal. 

Scales. 

Lenicth 
In  inches. 

a 

8 

20 
31 
S3 
SS 

11 

11 

6 

e 

21 
21 

13 
13 
12 
i:i 
12 
12 

7 
7 

10-67-8 
10-67-8 
71 
70 
66 
66 

10 



1 

1 

8.  Aorooheilna  alntaoena  Agassiz  &  Pickering.    "  Chiiel-mouth." 

Aorocheiliu  alataoeut  Agassiz  &  Pickering,  Amer.  Joar.  Soi.  and  Arts,  18.55,  99.    Type  localities: 
Falls  of  the  Willamette  and  in  Walla  Walla  River. 

Specimens  obtained  from  Payette  River  at  Payette,  53;  Patnha  Creek  at  Starbuck,  1; 
Umatilla  River  at  Pendleton,  15;  Natchess  River  at  North  Yakima,  2;  Walla  Walla  River  at 
Wallnla,  Wash.,  1;  Columbia  River  at  Umatilla,  26;  Potlatoh  Creek,  2  miles  above  mouth, 
19;  Snake  River  at  Payette,  17;  Boise  River  at  Caldwell,  5. 

So  far  as  known  this  species  is  confined  to  the  Columbia  River  basin,  where  it  is  one  of 
the  most  abundant  and  most  widely  distributed  of  the  minnows.  It  has  not  yet  been  found 
In  Snake  River  above  the  falls,  nor  is  it  known  from  the  Pend  d'Oreille  basin. 

9.  RhinichthyB  oataraotaa  dulois  (Girard).     Wetlern  Dace;  Mot-to-nut-ae  of  the  Fort  Hall  Indians. 

Argyreut  duloit  Girard,  Proo.  Aoad.  Nat.  Soi.  Phila.  1856,  185.    Type  locality :  Sweetwater  River, 
Nebraska. 

^  This  widely  distributed  species  is  represented  in  the  collection  by  the  following:  Month 
of  Colville  River,  1 ;  Snake  River  at  Idaho  Falls,  2 ;  Ross  Fork  near  Pocatello,  64 ;  Little  Wood 
Biver  near  Shoshone,  9;  Coanr  d'Alene  Lake,  14;  Colnmbia  River  at  Pasco,  3;  N^ktchess  Elver 
at  North  Takima,  11;  Post  Creek,  St.  Ignatius  Mission,  Mont.,  6;  Clarke  Fork  at  Thompson 
FaUa,  Montana,  2. 


INVESSTIOATIONS   IN   THE   COI-UMUIA   RIVER   BASIN. 


41 


TlilHspncipN  has  hithorto  been  reported  from  the  Columbia  River  biinin  from  but  one 
pbicc — Snalce  Uiver,  at  President  Ciinip;*  It  seetns,  however,  to  l)e  a  pretty  common  fish 
througlinnt  that  bnsin.  It  was  obtiiined  by  Wonlmnn  iind  Beun  in  Post  Creeic  unil  at  Thomp- 
son Falls,  the  only  places  in  the  Pnnd  d'OreiUe  system  whera  it  has  yet  been  fonnd.  The 
Indian  nam«  refers  to  the  motion  of  the  nose  in  eating, 

10.  AgoslB  nublla  (Girard). 

ArgyreuB  nubHua  Qirard,  Proo.  Aoad,  Nat.  8oi.  Phila.  1856,  186.  Type  locality:  Fort  Stcllacoom, 
Washini^ton 

Since  the  original  description  of  this  species  no  specimens  have  nntil  now  been  ta1<en 
from  near  the  type  locality.  The  name  hns  been  recently  used  by  Jordan  ond  others  for  tiie 
Agoiia  inhal>iting  the  Upper  Snake  River  and  the  Qreat  Basin  in  Utah,  being  thus  considered 
■ynonymous  with  the  numerous  nominal  species  {carringlonii,  vulnerata,  rhinichthi/oideii,  lien- 
ihnvii,  and  novemradiata)  described  by  Cope  from  streams  tributary  to  Qreat  Salt  Laiie. 
As  this  identification  boa  been  based  upon  a  comparison  with  the  imperfectly  preserved  types 
of  nubila,  the  present  collection  is  '>f  great  interest,  containing,  as  it  does,  material  from  16 
localities,  distributed  between  *\-<^  Newaakum  River  in  western  Washington  and  the  trilxi- 
taries  of  the  Upper  Snake  River  in  southeastern  Idaho.  A  study  of  this  material  has  shown 
the  desirability  of  recognizing  as  a  distinct  subspecies  Agoaia  nubila  oarringtonii,  the  form 
found  in  the  Great  Basin  and  the  Upper  Snake  River. 

Examination  of  the  annexed  tabular  statement  will  show  the  astonishing  amount  of 
variation  which  this  species  exhibits.  Thus,  the  crosswise  series  of  scales  varies  from  47  to 
70  in  number;  the  barbel  is  present  or  absent;  the  pharyngeal  teeth  vary  from  1,  4-4,  0  to 
2,  4-4,  2;  and  tiie  dorsal  fin  varies  much  iu  position  and  somewhat  in  size.  These  characters 
occur  in  various  combinations,  and  with  some  of  these  are  often  correlated  peculiarities  of 
physiognomy  and  gcueral  appearance,  all  of  which  may  serve  to  put  a  certain  stamp  upon  the 
individuals  from  a  single  stream,  or  even  from  one  locality  in  a  stream.  Disregarding  such 
local  variations,  we  find  that  our  material,  exclusive  of  the  specimens  of  .J.  nubila  carrinntonii, 
falls  more  or  less  clearly  into  three  groups,  distributed  around  certain  geographical  centers. 
Whether  we  are  here  dealing  with  subspecies  seems  doubtful,  and  can  be  determined  only  by 
more  extensive  and  detailed  exploration.  The  first  of  these  forms,  typical  nubila,  is  represoiited 
in  our  collection  by  a  large  number  of  specimens  from  the  Newaukum  and  Skookumchuck  rivers 
in  western  Washington,  very  near  the  type  locality  of  the  species.  These  are  all  very  dark 
in  coloration,  and  have  a  jet-black  lateral  band  which  extends  along  sides  of  head  and  encircles 
the  snout.  This  band  is  absent  in  our  second  and  third  groups,  fonnd  east  of  the  Cascades, 
or  it  Is  at  most  only  faintly  indicated.  The  darker  coloration  of  the  coastwise  form  may  be 
dne  to  its  ..ihabiting  a  densely  forested  area,  possessing  different  climatic  conditions  from 
those  characterizing  the  dry  semidesert  of  eastern  Washington  and  western  Idaho.  Both 
the  typical  nubila  and  the  lighter  interior  form  which  centers  about  Umatilla  are  characterized 
by  their  coarse  scales  (averaging  54  along  the  lateral  line)  and  their  peculiar  markings.  The 
latter  are  due  to  the  fact  that  numerous  scattered  scales  along  the  ''laok  and  sides  are  of  a 
dark  slate  color,  oontraating  sharply  with  the  lighter  ground. 

The  third  group  centers  in  the  Spokane  region,  and  is  characterized  by  smaller  scales, 
the  less-marked  peculiarities  of  coloration,  and  the  almost  uniform  abseuce  of  the  maxillary 
barbel.  The  inconstancy  of  this  important  generic  character  within  the  limits  of  the  species 
has  been  heretofore  noticed  only  by  Cope,  who  in  notes  on  Apocope  vulnerata  t  calls  attention 
to  its  occasional  absence.  In  our  specimens  from  other  than  the  Spokane  district  the  barbel 
is  very  rarely  lacking. 

The  significance  of  the  groups  above  outlined  can  be  determined  satisfactorily  only  by 
the  study  of  a  much  more  extensive  series  than  that  on  which  this  paper  is  based.  An  o\>en 
waterway  exists  between  them,  and  it  is  useless  to  attempt  to  indicate  their  vtclne  while  so 
large  a  part  of  the  Columbia  and  adjacent  basins  remain  onexplored. 

11.  Agoaia  nablla  oaTingtonil  (Cope).    Mo-tha-pog-gee. 

Apoeopt  oarringtonH  Cope,  Hayden's  Fifth  Annaal  Report,  1871  (1872),  472.  Type  locality:  Warm 
Springs,  Utah. 

*  Evermann,  Boll.  U.  S.  Fish  Comm.  for  1891  (1892),  42. 
S  Cope,  Zool.  Wheeler's  Survey  W.  100th  Merid.,  847, 1876. 


42 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMHIA   KIVKK    HA8/N. 


We  include  uuder  this  uaiue  the  Agotia  of  the  Oi'eat  Salt  Lake  baHin  (ezclnsive  of  the 
Sevier  River)  and  of  the  Upper  Snake  River.  Our  collectioti  contains  spt'iimena  froui  Port  Ncuf 
River,  Mink  Creek,  and  Rosa  Fork  near  Pooatollo,  and  from  Little  Wood  River  at  Shoiihoiie, 
It  differs  from  nubila  in  ito  finer  '  :alc8  (average  about  6b)  und  in  the  absence  of  tlie  sharply 
marked  black ish  scales  on  the  sices.  The  Fort  Hall  Indians,  to  whom  we  showed  specimens 
of  this  minnow,  called  it  Mo-ska-pog-gee,  a  word  which  they  say  describes  its  eating  habits. 
12.  Agosia  Umatilla  sp.  no  v.    (PL  ix.) 

Type  '  "ality:  Columbia  River  at  Umatilla,  Oregon,  where  15  specimens  were  colleote<l, 
Augnst  11, 1893,  by  Messrs.  Gilbert  and  Rutter.  Type,  No.  45390,  U.  8.  Nat.  Mns.  Co-typos,  No. 
45391,  U.  8.  Nat.  Mns.,  and  Nob.  1142  to  1147  (Umatilla)  and  1148  to  1150  (Payette)  Mnseuni 
Lcland  Stanford  Junior  TJnivorsity. 

AHSOciate  type  locality :  Payette  River  at  Payette,  Idaho,  where  3  specimens  were  secured, 
Augnst  9,  1893,  by  Messrs.  Gilbert,  Thobum,  and  Rutter. 

Rel.'ntcd  to  Agosia  j'lilcala  and  Agosia  nuhila  carringtonii. 

Description:  Head,  3J;  depth,  4i;  eye,  4;  snout,  S.  D.i,  9;  A.  i, 7;  scales,  14-68-8, about 
30  before  the  dorsal.  Teeth,  1,  4-4, 1  ho'-'^oti.  The  body  is  rather  slender,  tiit  back  somewhat 
elevated;  head  pointed,  narrow;  mo»*a  inferior,  nearly  liorizontal,  narrow;  caudal  pecuncle 
compressed,  slender,  its  leaxt  depth  2  in  head.  Origin  of  dorsal  fin  slightly  behind  insertion 
of  ventralo  and  about  midway  between  base  of  middle  caudal  ra,v»  c.id  nostril;  dorsal  iin 
falcate,  the  ant/crior  rays  nearly  as  long  as  head,  theij  tipn  leiichina;  well  behind  posterior 
rays  when  deflexed  ;  rudimentary  ray  not  ei>lar;^ed  nor  spinelike;  anal  strongly  falcate,  the 
(interior  rays  much  proriuced.,  about  ati  long  »s  head  and  more  than  twice  the  length  of  the 
posterior  rays;  pectoral  not  quite  reaching  vontraU,  IJ  in  head;  ventraU  reaching  well 
beyond  fi'ojt  of  anal,  1^  in  head;  caudal  deeply  forkeil;  no  ventral  stays.  Barbel  minute; 
upper  lip  without  frenum.  Color  in  alcohol,  olivaceous  above,  covered  with  obucnre  patches 
of  darker;  siuco  with  a  distinct  plnmbcouii  baud  following  the  course  of  the  lateral  line  and 
extending  forward  tlirough  the  eye  and  around  snout;  side  with  a  number  of  dark  blotches, 
Ksualty  imperfectly  delined,  partly  covering  the  plnmhftcjus  band ;  a  large  dark  blotch  on  base 
of  caudal  peduncle,  and  one  o\-  two  smaller  ones  on  base  of  caudal  rays.    Length,  65  mm. 

The  range  of  variation,  xa  shown  by  the  co-typen,  ia  wot  great.  Depth,  t}  to  5;  eye,  3i  to 
4;  scales,  13  or  14,  60  to  70-7  or  8;  D.  8  or  9,  There  nre  alight  but  unimportant  color  difter- 
ences.    (For  variation  in  meastireraent-s,  see  table.) 

This  species  is  somewliat  intermediate  betv7eea  Agosia  falcata  and  A.  nubHa  cnrringtonii. 
From  the  forr...-r  it  may  bo  distinguished  by  its  not  ibly  smaller  scales,  al>8enc')  of  \<  iitral  stays, 
and  smaller  eye;  from  the  latter  itdifl^rs  if.  its  louder,  moieslcndor  snout  and  larger,  strongly 
falcate  fins.  Ah  in  A.  falcata,  the  top  of  head  and  anterior  portion  of  trunk  are  often  covered 
with  minute  unptial  tubercles.  From  Agoxia  adobe  it  differs  in  the  larger  -^yo.  which  is  con- 
tained IJ  to  11  times  in  snout,  while  in  A.  atlobe  it  fa  oontaiiind  2  to  2}  timns;  the  'ii;s  are 
higher  and  more  falcatti,  and  the  scalea  balow  1  -teral  line  arc  !:'.T^cr  The  3  specimens  oblai.^ed 
from  Payette  River  do  not  differ  materially  from  thop"  found  at  Umatilla. 
13    Agosia  'alcata  Eigenmann  &■  Eigenniaun. 

Aijosia  falec  a  Eigenmann  &.  Eigenmann,  AmeriMU  Natr.ralist  for  February,  1893,  153.    Typo 
locality:  Boise  River,  Caldwell,  Idaho. 

This  interesting  spootes  was  obtained  by  na  at  the  following  places:  Boise  Elver  at, 
Caldwell,  97;  Payette  River  at  Payett<i,  27;  Siiiike  River  at  Payette,  1;  Mill  Creek  nesir 
Walla  Walla,  I;  Columbia  River  at  Umatilla,  53;  Columbia  Riv^er  at  Pasco,  5. 

In  the  following  table  we  give  mr<usurements  of  a  number  of  specimens: 


Bolite  lliver  at  Caldwell. 

Payetto  Elver  at  Tayotte. 

4 
4t 

3» 

n 

7 
M 

i 

i 

21 

0 

7 

M 

8| 
6 
3» 

n 

a 

7 

r.:. 

8J 

I 

3 
S 
7 

nn 

4 

s 

H 

B 

10 
7 

4 
S 

n 
n 

3 

33 

S3 

9 

7 

n 
♦1 

3 
9 

SI 

31 
B 

4 
8 

g 

7 
56 

3J 
4 

3i 
21 
S 

7 
55 

3» 
3i 

H 
2J 
9 
7 
S9 

H 

8 

St 
5 

*\ 
3 

4 
C 

H 
3 

1 
4    \i\ 
4J     A 

31 

Depth 

■y«.. 

Snout 

Dorsal 

An»l 

3 

B 

] 

1 

i 

C(, 

1 

Lit 

J 

Hi 

Co 

CI 

( 

B< 

P( 


Pi 

■w 


C( 


s: 


INVKSTIGATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA   RIVER   BASIN. 


43 


One  of  the  most  obanictpiistio  marks  of  this  species  is  the  presence  of  two  or  tiiiee  mem- 
branous stays  couuectlng  the  inner  vcr  .ral  rays  with  the  skin  of  the  body,  thns  forming  pockets 
under  the  ventral  fins  ami  bo' ^'n'  ihem  down  quite  flrn^ly.  Adnlts  show  an  extraordinary 
development  of  the  nuptial  tuborcies,  which  are  present  on  top  of  head ,  and  on  back  and  sides  of 
body.  On  the  body  a  single  tubercle  is  located  on  the  middle  of  the  free  edj^e  of  each  scale,  being 
formed  by  a  thickening  of  the  integument.  On  the  belly,  this  thickening  involves  the  entire 
surface  of  the  scales,  giving  to  this  region  a  mosaic-like  apiiearance.  Beneath  this  thicknned 
epidermis,  the  scales  are  often  partially  absorbed,  especially  on  the  breast.  Tubercles  are 
'"lao  present  on  the  innc"  (superior)  surfaces  of  the  pectoral  fins,  whore  they  follow  the  fin  ruys 
in  single  series,  brancbi..g  to  conespond  with  the  forking  of  the  ray. 

We  find  the  origin  of  the  dorsal  fin  in  this  species  constantly  behind  the  front  insertion  of  the 
ventrals.  It  varies  from  midway  between  base  of  median  caudal  rays  and  nostrils  (its  usual 
position)  to  a  point  midway  between  caudal  and  posterior  margin  of  pupil.  The  yariatiun 
includes  tlie  position  of  the  dorsal  assigned  aa  a  distinguishing  feature  in  Agoiiu  shutwap 
Eigenmaun,  this  being  the  only  character  assigned  as  Jistinguishing  $hiuwap  from  faloata." 

Ichlu  shoviing  variation  in  ipecioi  of  Jgoaia. 


LocalltT. 


Anotia  nuiOa. 

Col  V  lUe  Ei  ver,  Mersrs 

FajlH. 
LittU'  Sp»li«ne  Hiver, 

Dan'fiMill. 
Haiigmi  n  Cr.,T«koa  . 


CiDur  d'Alone  Like . . 

Clearwater  B.,  lewis- 
tou. 

BolM  R..  Caldwell 

f  otlatcli  Cr.jMvii.Uin, 


PatA'an  K..8liibue1c .. 
Walla  WrtlU  E.,  Wal- 

lul8. 
MllU)r.,  Walla  WalU 
Umatilla  R.,l>«ndlcu)n. 
Cohiiubii.  R.  T.natllla. 
Katolifflff  KlTBr,Kortb 

YHl.itn.i, 
JSowBukiim  River.Che. 

hallH. 
Skookiiinchiiok  River, 

Chehall*. 

J..  ntUiila  earringtcnU, 

Port  Nonf  RItm-,  Po- 

catcllu. 
Bona  Fork,  I'ccatello.. 
Mink  Creek,  Pwutnllo. 
Port,  Neiif  Ulver,  Po- 

oatollo. 

Idahu  Fall^ 

Little  tVood  River.... 

Payette!!.,  Payotta... 

A.  fttlcata. 

iloUe  River,  CaUwpll. 
ViiyetteR.,  Pavette... 
Cul'.'iublalc.,  UmutiUa. 

J  ■  umatiUa^ 

ColiwnblaU.lmatllla. 

Payette  R.,  Payette.. 


3M 

I 


4 


4-4J 


«M 


*i 


81-1 
3{-4 

i-4l 


i 


BM 

4-4i 


if 


81-1 


4.4^ 


4H1 


<i 


4 


n 


H-i     44-8 
31    «M 


^ 


4 
4i-5 

H 


34         3J 
4-ti   2i-3 


4-4i 


31-4 

an 
"i 


4 

J* 


4 
H-t 


2|-8 
2^-3 


«-3t    + 


2t-35 


8} 


o 
o 

+  In .' 

QlnSl 
+  ln10 


2t-8 
8 


»t 


2J-41 1  -^ 


1.4-4,1 

2,4-4,2 

1,4-1,2 
2,4-1,2 
1,4-1,2 


1,4-4,1 
1,4-4,0 
1.4-4,1 
2,4-4,2 


2.4-4,2 


1,4-4,1 

1.4-4,1 

1,4-4,1 


I 


» 

8  or  9 

8  or  9 

Sort 

tota 

8 
8nr» 

8  or  9 


0<3 


To  eye 

To  precperde. 

Bojond  pro- 

opercle. 
Middle     nf 

pupil. 


To  eye 

To  preoiierole. 


Topnpll 

To  preoperola. 


.do. 


8 

i 

9 

8or9 
9  or  10 


8  or  10 

»ot9 
9  or  9 


To  eye 

To  front  of  eye. 

To  oyo 

To  pupil .. 


Toflrontofoye. 
To  eye 


To  nostril . 


To  fi'ont   of 
pupil. 


52-57 
62-tB 
51-«6 
84-70 


66 
60-86 


80-84 
47-55 

52-61 
48-58 
48-67 
53-58 

63-58 

50-67 


«8 

63-72 

66 

61-67 

62-63 
63-79 

60-65 


63-69 


53-68 

7     83-70 
7  I  60-85 


69 

64 
65 
64 

821 
71 

84 


58 


id 

E.2 

'U 


66 

66 
03 


•  JCigeumaiiu,  American  Niituraittt,  February,  1893, 1D1« 


44 


INVESTIQATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA   R:VKR   BASIN. 


14.  Couesiua  greeui  Jorilau. 

Coiietiiu  greeni  Jurdaii,  I'roc.  U.  S.  Nftt.  Mus.  1893,  313.  Type  locality:  Stnart  Lake  near  Fort 
St.  Jain«8,  British  Coluuihia,     (Type,  No.  44154,  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.) 

In  the  collection  made  hy  Messrs,  Beau  ami  Woolman,  September  20, 1892,  in  a  small  creek 
at  Sand  Toint,  Idaho,  we  find  three  examples  of  this  spocios.  In  length  they  measure  2J,  3, 
and  3J  inches,  respectively.  Head  in  length  of  body,  4),  4!:,  4|;  depth,  4},  5,  5;  eye,  4,  3i,  3^; 
snout,  3i,  3i,  3i;  intororbital  width,  3i,  3i,  3;  D.  8;  A.  8;  scales,  10-55-6,  11-60-5,  11-60-6; 
34  before  the  dorsal.  The  origin  of  the  dorsal  fin  is  at  a  point  midway  between  base  of  caudal 
flu  and  the  preorbital  (not  "prcopercle,"  as  given  iu  the  original  description  of  G.  greeni, 
evidently  a  misprint  for  "preorbital").  These  Sand  Point  specimens  agree  well  with  the 
type  of  C.  greeni  with  which  we  have  compared  them.  This  species  seems  to  ditVer  from  the 
Couetiut  of  the  Upper  Missouri  basin  ( CoueHut  disaimilia)  in  the  somewhat  larger  scales  and  in 
having  the  scales  less  crowded  on  anterior  part  of  body. 

19.  Cypiinua  oarpio  Linuo-us,  Carp.  The  carp  has  been  introduced  into  a  number  of  ponds  auc' 
small  lakes  of  the  Columbia  br.siu  and  from  these  has  oscap«jd  into  the  streams.  We  saw  it  in 
Payette  River  at  Payette  and  heard  of  it  elsewhere, 

16.  MylocheiluB  oaurinua  (Eichardsor/).    "Chub";  •' WUtefith." 

Cyprinut  (Leiiciscus)  canrinus  Richardson,  Fauna  Boreali-Americana,  ill,  304, 1836.  Type  locality : 
Colambia  River,  at  Fort  Vancouver. 

Speoimons  obtained  from  Pend  d'Oreille  River  at  Newport,  Idaho,  1 ;  Boise  River  at  Cald- 
well, Idaho,  19;  Payette  River  at  Payette,  Idaho,  7;  Snake  River  at  Payette,  Idaho,  8; 
Columbia  River  at  Umatilla,  Oreg.,  16;  Walla  Walla  River  at  WuUul.i,  Oreg.,  13;  Blue 
Lakes,  Idaho,  8;  UmatillaRiver  at  Pendleton,  Oreg.,  1.  Kn  :tl)uiidRTitand  widely  distributed 
fish  in  the  Lower  Columbia  basin ;  not  known  from  Snake  River  above  the  falls,  and  probably 
does  not  occnr  there.    Observed  to  be  very  abundant  in  the  Pend  d'Oreille  below  Newport. 

17.  PtychocheilUB  oregonensis  (Richardson).     "  Sguatcjish." 

Cyprinut  (Leuciacus)  oregonensii  Richardson,  Fauna  Boreali-Americana,  ill,  305,  1836.  Type 
locality:    Columbia  River,  at  Fort  Vancouver. 

Specimens  obtained  from  Payette  River  at  Payette,  Idaho,  27;  Hangman  Creek  at  Tekoa, 
Wash..  9;  Clearwater  Creek  at  Lewiston,  Idaho,  2;  Potlatch  Creek  near  Lewiston,  Idaho, 
8;  Snake  River  at  Payette,  Idaho,  2;  Boise  River  (.  Caldwell,  Idaho,  28;  Walla  Walla  River 
at  Wallula,  Wash.,  1;  Columbia  River  at  Pasco,  Wash.,  6;  Columbia  River  at  Umatilla, 
Oreg.,  4;  Umatilla  River  at  Pendleton,  Oreg.,  6;  Natchess  River  at  North  Yakima,  Wash.,  4; 
Skookumchuok  River  near  Centralia,  Wash.,  28;  Newaukum  River  near  Chehalis,  Wash.,  8; 
Mouth  of  ColviUe  River,  Col ville,  Wash.,  6;  Spokane  River  below  Spokane,  Wash.,  10;  Lake 
Pend  d'Oreille  at  Sand  Point,  Idaho,  1;  Pend  d'Oreille  River  at  Newport,  Idaho,  7;  Flathead 
Lake,  Mont.,  28.  In  the  Pend  d'Oreille  River  the  8(]uawfish  is  even  more  abundant  than  .'f. 
caurinui.  No  diflerences  could  be  discovered  between  the  above-mentioned  specimens  and 
others  from  the  Sacramento  River  basin  in  California. 

18.  LeuclscuB  bydrophloz  (Cope).    Po-hs-wa. 

Clinottomui  hydrophlox  Cope,  Hayden's  Fifth  Annual  Report,  1871  (1872),  475.  Type  locality : 
Blackfoot  Creek,  Idaho. 

Clinosiomui  montanua  Cope,  1.  o.,  475.    Typo  locality;  Grass  Creek,  Idaho. 

Clinoitomut  Uenia  Cope,  Trans.  Amor.  Philos.  Soc,  Phila.  1874,  133.  Type  locality:  Utah  Lake. 
NnmerouB  spocinions  of  this  species  were  collected  in  the  Snake  River  at  Idaho  Falls,  in 
Ross  Fork  of  Snake  River  (on  tho  Fort  Hall  Indian  Reservation),  and  in  Mink  Creek  and  Port 
Neuf  River  near  Pocatello,  Idaho.  The  Indian  uanio  I'o-he-wa  means  striped.  The  following 
tabular  statement  shows  the  varial  n  in  the  number  of  anal  fin  rays  among  the  example!  ool« 
lected  at  these  places. 


Locality. 

Number  of 
apdi'imeiis 
ooUeotetl. 

t  anal 
raya. 

10  annl 
raja. 

11  anal 
raya. 

IS  anal 
rajg. 

ninnbor 
<>r  rays 
In  aiiaL 

Idaho  Falls 

13 

B2 

6 

118 

i' 

1 
17 

1 
41 

9 

37 

OS 

8 
« 

ia' 

11 
U 

Riiaa  Fork      

Mink  Cri'ok 

I'ortNeiif  Kivcr 

mVESTIQATIONS    IN   THE    COLUMUIA    KIVER   BASIN. 


45 


Nnmerons  specimens  (83)  obtiiiued  ii;  1891  In  the  Sniiko  River  at  President  Cnmp  and  in  a 
Bmnll  creek  at  the  head  of  Jackson  Lake,  Wyoming, '  liavo  11  or  12  nnal  rays,  12  being  tlio  number 
in  most  of  tbe  examples  counted.  In  1892,  Dr.  Eigeumann  obtained  speuimons  at  Idaho  FiiIIh,  2 
of  \vhic;h  have  12,  It  have  13,  and  4  have  14  anal  rays  each.  Putting  these  witli  tlie  13  col- 
lected by  us,  gives  nn  average  of  12J  nnal  rays  for  that  locality.  Tlils  species  was  obtained 
also  by  Jordan  &  Gilbert  in  1889  in  Heart  Lake  and  Witch  Creek,  in  Yellowstone  Park.t  The 
specimens  examined  by  tliem  liad  13  anal  rays.  In  speciiuons  from  Idaho  Falls  the  scales  of 
lateral  line  range  as  follows:  52,  53,  53,  53,  .55,  55,  57,  57,  58,  61;  from  PortNenf  River,  51,  51, 
61,  52,  53,  53,  5.5,  57.  Head  from  4  to  4*  in  length,  eye  3|  to  3Jt  in  head.  The  maxillary  scarcely 
reaches  front  of  eye,  and  is  3  to  3 J  times  in  head. 

19.  Leuciscus  Uneatus  (Girard). 

Tigoma  Hneata  Girard,  Proo.  Acad.   Nat.  Sci.  Phila.  1856,  206.    Type  locality:  Not  definitely 
known,  but  probably  somewhere  in  the  Utah  basin. 

Tigoma  atraria  Girard,  1.  o.,  208.    Type  locality :  "  A  spring  in  the  Utah  district,  near  the  desert." 

Tigoma  obesa  Girard,  Proo.  Acad.  Nat.  8oi.  Phila.  1856,  206.     Type  locality :  Suit  Lake  Valley. 

Tigoma  sqiiamaia  Gill,  Proc.  Host.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.  1861,  42.    Typo  locality:  Salt  Lake  Basin. 

SguaJim  cr«oreM»  Jordan  &  Gilbert.  Proo.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mas.  1880,400.    Type  locality :  Utah  Lake; 
young  specimens. 

Squaliug  rhomaleua  Jordan  &  Gilbert,  1.  c,  461.    Type  locality:  Utah  Lake;  large  specimens. 

£t<ioma  atraria  longiccpt  Cope.  Zool.  Wheeler  Surv.,  V,  667, 1876.  Type  locality :  Suako  Creek,  Nev. 
This  species  was  obtained  at  the  following  places:  Idaho  Falls;  Port  Neuf  River  at 
Pocatello;  Payette  River  st  Payette.  Others  wore  seen  at  American  Falls,  in  Snake  Rivbr. 
Besides  the  localities  given  in  the  above  synonymy,  this  fish  has  been  reported  from  the  fol- 
lowing additional  points  in  the  Snake  River  basin :  Heart  Lake  and  Witch  Creek,  in  Yellow- 
stone Park  (Jordan  &  Gilbert,  1889);  Snake  River  at  President  Camp;  Jackson  Lake  »iid  a 
small  creek  at  upper  end  of  Jackson  Lake,  Wyoming,  (Evermann  &  Jenkins,  1891);  Snake 
River  at  Idaho  Falls,  Idaho  (Eigenmann).  In  the  Columbia  basin  it  seems  to  be  entirely 
confined  to  the  Snake  River,  and  in  that  stream  its  occurrence  below  the  falls  is  exceptional. 
It  is  an  excessively  abundant  fish  in  the  Great  Salt  Luke  ba«in,  particularly  in  Utah  Lake. 

In  the  canal  at  Idaho  Falls  we  easily  caught  this  and  the  preceding  species  by  placing  dough 
inside  a  small  dip  net  and  allowing  it  to  rest  a  short  time  on  the  bottom ;  great  numbers  of  the 
two  species,  pi'.rticulorly  of  X.  hydrophhx,  would  soon  begin  feeding  on  the  dough,  when  they 
could  be  easily  secured  by  lifting  the  net.  In  all  recent  papers  this  species  has  been  listed 
nnder  the  name  LeuoiMue  atrariua,  but  it  seems  quite  certain  that  itgoma  lineata  Girard  is  tbe 
same  fish ;  and  this,  being  the  older  name,  must  take  the  place  of  atrariun. 

20,  XjeuclBous  alicise  Jouy. 

Tigoma  gracilis  Girard,  Froc.  Acad.  Nat,  Soi.  Phila.  1866,  206;  not  Cyprinu$  (Leuciiout)  gradlii 

Richardson. 
SquaHu$  copei  Jordan  &  Gilbert,  Proo.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  1880,  461;  not  LeiicUcm  eopei  Olinther. 
Leticitcui  alicia;  Joiiy,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  1881,  10.    Type  locality:  Utah  Lake. 

This  species  was  found  very  abundant  in  Little  Wood  River  at  Shoshone,  where  86  speci- 
mens were  obtained,  Slight  difl'erences  are  found  on  compiirison  of  these  specimens  with 
others  from  the  Sevier  River,  Utah,  but  these  differences  are  not  likely  to  prove  constant  and 
are  not  more  extensive  than  are  frequently  found  on  comparing  specimens  from  adjacent 
trib\itarlos  of  the  same  stream.  The  eye  is  a  trifie  larger,  the  caudal  peduncle  rather  more 
Blender,  the  pectoral  and  ventral  fins  seem  to  average  a  little  shorter,  and  the  dorsal  may  be 
a  little  more  anterior  in  position. 

This  species  has  been  previously  known  only  from  Sevier  Rivor,  Beaver  River,  and  Provo 
River  in  Utah.  Its  occurrouoo  in  the  valley  of  the  Upper  Snake  River  is  one  more  evidence  of 
the  identity  of  the  two  faunas.  At  leasi  8  of  the  species  of  our  collection  from  the  Upper 
Snake  River  are  also  found  in  the  Great  Salt  Lake  Basin  of  Utah.  They  are  Catoitomun  anient, 
Bhiniehlhya  diiltin,  Agonia  nubila  can-ingtonii,  LeuoiaouB  hydrophlox,  Leuciscut  alioicB,  Leuciiou* 
Uneatua,  Coregnnut  williamanni,  and  Cottua punotulatua. 

The  followini;  is  a  detailed  description  of  our  specimens  from  Little  Wood  River:  Head, 
4  (3}  to  41);  depth,  4  to  4i;  eye,  31  to  4;  snout,  31  to  4.  D.  8;  A.  8,  In  52  spectuieus,  9  in  34. 
Scales,  18-79  to  83-13.     Body    elongate,  moderotely  compressed;    head  short   and   heavy, 

•Evermaun.  IJuli.  U.  8.  FUh  Comm.  for  ISfll,  H.         t  Jordan,  Bull.  U.  8.  Fish  ComEaTfor  1880.  48. 


46 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE    COLUMBIA   RIVER   BASIN. 


interorbital  width  a  little  greater  than  snoat;  snoat  docnrved;  mouth  wide,  ohliqne,  lower 
jaw  very  slightly  projecting ;  maxillary  reaching  to  within  front  of  orbit;  caudal  peduncle 
long,  the  distance  between  anal  fin  and  base  of  caudal  about  1^  in  head,  least  depth  of  caudal 
peduncle  2|  in  head.  Fins  small;  height  uf  dorsal  1^  in  head,  its  free  edge  slightly  convex; 
origin  of  dorsal  somewhat  behind  ventrals,  a  little  nearer  base  of  caudal  than  tip  of  snout; 
anal  about  size  of  dorsal;  length  of  pectoral  equal  to  height  of  dorsal,  their  tips  rarely 
Teaching  base  of  ventrals;  ventrals  short,  equal  to  snout  and  eye.  Lateral  line  somewhat 
Interrupted,  little  decurved;  scales  crowded  anteriorly. 
21.  Leuclsous  balteatus  (Richardson). 

t'ypnnuB  (Abramis)  balteatus  Richardson,  Fauna  Boreali- Americana, ni,  301, 1836.    Type  locality: 
Columbia  River,  presumably  at  Fort  Vancouver,  Washington. 

Kiohardaonius  lateralis  Qitari,  Proo,  Acad.  Nat.  Soi.  Phila.  1856,  202.     Type  locality:  Fort  Steil- 
acoom,  Puget  Sound. 

Tliis  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  species  of  the  Columbia  and  Lower  Snake  River,  bnt 
appears  not  to  occur  In  the  Upper  Snake,  where  it  is  replaced  by  L.  hydrophlox.  The  accom- 
panying table  shows  the  stations  at  which  this  species  was  taken,  together  with  the  number  of 
individuals  from  each  locality,  and  the  number  of  rays  in  the  anal  fin.  It  will  be  seen  that 
the  latter  vary,  in  our  specimens,  from  11  to  22  in  nnmber,  the  averages  in  the  counts  from 
the  different  localities  ranging  from  13  to  18. 

In  a  recent  paper,*  Dr.  Eigenmann  announces  the  discovery  that  in  this  species  tbe 
number  of  anal  rays  decreases  with  increasing  altitude  or  that  "the  higher  the  altitude 
the  fewer  the  nnmber  of  rays  and  the  narrower  the  limits  of  variation."  To  successfully 
establish  snoh  a  generalization  a  very  large  amount  of  evidence  would  be  necessary.  As  a 
contribution  to  this  question  we  append  the  following  table,  which  can  not,  we  think,  be 
interpreted  as  showing  the  truth  of  the  theory.  In  this  table  we  give,  (1)  the  localities  from 
which  specimens  were  examined;  (2)  the  range  in  variation  in  anal  rays  among  the 
individuals;  (3)  the  total  number  examined  firom  each  locality;  (4)  the  average  number  of 
anal  rays  for  each  locality,  and  (5)  the  approximate  altitude  of  each  place.  Fractions  of  i  or 
more  are  included  in  the  next  higher  number : 


TiOOftllty. 

Kninber  of  anal  rkys. 

Total 
No.  ex- 
amined. 

Aver- 
age No. 
anal 
rays. 

Approx- 
imate 
eleva- 
tion in 
feet. 

11 

13 

IS 

14 

IS 

16 

17 

M 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

l.ittio  Spokane  River,  Dart'sMill 

1 

14 

SO 

i 

"i' 
s 

16 
1 

•j- 

IB 
6 
5 

io' 

10 

11 
1 

8 
19 
6 
2 
8 

6 
6 

1 
1 
1 
B 

13 
6 
7 

36 
1 
6 
1 
3 
4 
7 

10 
1 

29 
6 

70 
21 
11 

1 
14 
29 
47 
U 
14 
05 

8 
11 

8 

8 

6 
18 
65 
18 
154 
23 

4 
68 

6 
34 
16 

3 
12 
10 
10 

18 

14 
14 
14 
14 
14 
14 
15 
15 
15 
15 
15 
IS 
15 

IS' 
16 
16 
16 
16 
17 
17 
17 
18 
18 
18 
18 
18 

in 

IB 
20i 

1,850 
1,200 
1,910 
1,475 
6,344 
1,070 
1 
8,100 
1,990 
2,100 
2,000 
1,910 
1,078 

2fat 
8,100 
3,550 
2,872 

20i 
2,l.lu 
2,786 
1,200 
1,800 

326 
2,373 

760 

376 

300 
2,150 

300 

1 

1,158 

2 
8 

1 

1 
.... 

Ur v(  Ntoke.  B.  C.  o 

1 
1 
4 
3 
8 
8 
2 
2 
3 
1 
1 
6 

21 
7 

27 

11 
1 

13 
2 
6 
8 

I'tnsitilla  Kiver  Pendleton  ..... 

1 

1 

GrilHnlittke,  U.C.o 

Small  Creek  at  Sand  Point,  Idaho 

1 
6 

1 

3 

NfttilhoHn  River.  North  Ynkima.. 

Post  (j'reok   Flathead  Lake 

1 
4 

12 
2 

28 
4 
1 

28 
2 
7 
6 
1 
3 
1 
1 
7 

Golden,  H.C.a 

Bnlite  Itiver  Caldwell  . 

■j- 
2 
3 

1 
6 

2 

1 

8 

1 
25 

a 

8 

2 
8 

"i' 

4 
1 
2 
4 
5 
13 

SicanKniR,  B.  C.  o 

Wiilla  Walla  River,  WalluU 

.... 

1 

8 

5 
2 

25 

1 

2 

2 

ITmntithi  River,  Umatilla 

1 

1 

1 

1 
1 
2 
18 
1 

TJmiUitIa  River.  UmatillAa.... 

1 

Mlsninn.  D.C.o 

.... 

.... 

.... 

8 

8 

1 

2 

3 

2 

79 

a 



i 

•Theae  are  tlialocalitiei  ftom  whicliapeuioiens  wuro  exaiumetl  by  Dr.  Eigenmann.    The  data  are  those  given  by  blm. 
•  Beaiilta  at  Bxpluratloa*  in  Weatern  Ouada  and  the  Northwestern  United  SUtes.    Bull.  V.S.V.  0. 1894,  UL 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA   RIVER   BASIN. 


47 


In  the  above  table  we  have  arranged  the  data  beginning  with  the  lowest  aveT<>ge  nurabor  of  aniil 
rays  (13),  and  proceeded  from  that  to  the  highest  (20i).  In  the  table  which  follows  we  have 
arranged  the  localities  in  order  of  elevation,  beginning  with  the  lowest. 

TabU  ihowing  the  relalion  of  altitude  to  numler  of  anoX  fln  rayt  in  Leuciicue  balteatUB, 


Looalltlu. 


Ii*ke  Washington 

Uissiona 

Newaukiim  Kivcr , 

Skookumcburk  River 

TTmatillaa 

ITmatilla , 

Wallula 

Pasco 

I^ewiston 

Pemlleton 

Kaniloups  a 

Potlatch  Cri  ok  at  Lewlston 

Meyers  Falls 

Sicamous  a 

Revels  toko  a 

Dart's  Mills 

Griffin  Lakea 

Spokane Kiver,  Spokane. .. 
Hangman  Creek,  Spokann .. 

Newport 

Sand  Point 

i^nake  Kiver,  Fayette 

Pavette  River,  Payel  te . . . . 

CaldwnUa 

Caldwell 

Golden  a 

La  Grande  a , 

Flathead  Lake 

FostUreek , 

Silver  Bow 


No.  of 

Approxi- 
mate alti- 

Averaee 
No.  o7 

speci- 
mens on 

which 
avorngea 

tude. 

anal  rays. 

ure  based. 

1 

14 

47 

1 

19 

79 

204 

15 

8 

204 

16 

18 

300 

19 

10 

300 

18 

13 

326 

17 

9 

875 

18 

8 

760 

18 

16 

1,070 

14 

29 

1,158 

20| 

3 

1,200 

17 

4 

1,200 

14 

21 

1,300 

17 

58 

1,475 

14 

1 

1,B50 

13 

70 

1,900 

IS 

14 

1,B10 

14 

11 

l,BIO 

IS 

11 

2,000 

IB 

8 

2,100 

15 

9S 

2,150 

18 

10 

2,130 

IS 

154 

2,872 

18 

84 

2.373 

16 

es 

2,550 

16 

18 

2,78« 

IS 

33 

8,100 

IS 

11 

8,100 

1(H 

6 

t,844 

14 

U 

a  TbekC  data  are  from  Dr.  Blgenmann's  paper. 

Comparing  these  with  Eigenmann's  results,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  average  nnmber  of 
rays  from  onr  lowest  elevation  (14  at  Lake  Washington)  is  fewer  by  2  than  the  average  from 
his  highett  elevation  (16  at  La  Or.inde)  and  that  car  average  for  Newaukum  River  (204  feet 
elevation)  is  fewer  than  any  average  found  by  him  except  at  Revelstoke  (1,475  feet),  whore 
his  average  is  11,  and  at  Grifflu  Lake  (1,900  feet),  where  it  is  15,  The  average  found  by  us  at 
sea  level  (Lake  Washington)  is  identical  with  that  found  at  Silver  Bow,*  whose  elevation  is 
5,344  feet,  the  greatcMt  elevation  from  which  specimens  have  been  examined.  When  there  Ih 
absolutely  no  dift'erenoe  between  the  averages  for  the  lowest  and  the  highest  elevations  it  is 
not  possible  for  us  to  see  any  reason  for  the  generalization,  "the  higher  the  altitude  tlie  fewer 
the  number  of  rays."  If  the  figures  show  anything,  they  show  that  the  number  of  anal  (in 
lays  docs  not  decrease  with  increasing  altitade.  It  is  also  stated  that  the  greatest  range  of 
variation  is  at  the  lowest  altitudes,  but  further  on  it  is  stated  that  the  "greatest  variation 
in  this  [the  Columbia]  system  was  not  at  the  lowest  altitude,  but  at  an  elevation  of  2,372  feet. ' 
The  range  here  was  found  by  him  to  be  through  9,  or  from  12  to  20.  We  And  the  same  range 
of  variation  (from  12  to  20)  in  our  specimens  from  Payette  (2,150  feet.)  The  range  found  at 
the  point  nearest  sea  level  in  the  Columbia  basin  (at  Umatilla,  300  feet)  was  only  through  6 
(15  to  20),  and  the  average  for  that  place  is  nearly  identical  with  that  at  Caldwell.  The  vari- 
ation found  by  Eigeumann  among  his  Mission  specimens  is  through  0  (16  to  24),  while  that  of 
our  Lake  Washington  specimens  is  through  7  (12  to  18).  The  averages  for  these  two  places, 
both  of  whioli  are  at  sea  level,  are  10  and  14,  respectively. 

We  consider  Leuciscuf  lateralis  (Qirard)  a  simple  synonym  of  L,  balteatue.  Our  material 
covers  well  the  type  localities  of  both  (Columbia  River  at  Fort  Vancouver  and  Fort  Stoila- 
oooni  on  Pnget  Sound)  and  indicates  but  one  form.  We  are  certainly  not  prepared  to  consider 
lateralis  a  subspecies  of  balteatue,  occupying  the  same  brook  with  its  parent  form,  as  indicated 
by  Eigcnmauu. 


*Xr.  pilii,  probably  a  good  ipeoias. 


48 


INVESTIOATIOISS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA   RIVER   BASIN. 


22.  Coregonns  wlUlamBoni  Girard.     (Plate  ix). 

Coregonut  williamsoni  Giraril,  Proo.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.  1856,  136.  Type  locality:  Des  Chutes 
River,  Oregon. 

Specimnns  obtaii'td  from  the  Payette  Kiver  at  Paj  stte,  Idaho,  24 ;  Clearwater  River  at 
Lewiston,  Idaho,  7;  Columbia  River  at  Umatilla,  Oreg.,  1;  Natchess  River  at  North  Yakima, 
Wash.,  8;  Newaukiim  River  at  liehalis,  VVasbingtoii,  4;  Little  Spokane  River  at  Dart's 
Mill,  Wash.,  6;  Flathead  Lake,  Montana,  2;  Post  Creek,  St.  Ignatius  Mission,  Montana,9; 
Clarke  Fork  at  Thompson  Foils,  Mont.,  1;  Creek  at  Sand  Point,  Idaho,  5;  Spokane  River, 
Spokane,  Wash.,  1. 

Abundant  and  widely  distributed  throughout  the  Columbia  and  Upper  Colorado  and 
Missouri  basins.  Specimens  of  this  flsh  were  obtained  by  Mr.  Bean  which  are  of  unusual 
interest  In  that  they  show  the  breeding  colors.  Mr.  Beau's  report  upon  these  specimens  is 
given  at  the  end  of  this  paper. 

23.  OiicorhynchusgorbuBclia(Walbaum).    Bumpback  Salmon.   The  humpback  salmon  was  ruuning  in 

great  abundance  at  the  date  of  our  visit  to  Puget  Sound  (August  26)  and  was  the  only  species 
then  being  handled  at  the  canneries.  We  were  informed  that  the  humpbacks  did  not  run  last 
year,  and  in  corroboration  of  the  fact  that  this  species  runs  on  the  ^  id  11  alteraate  years 
only,  it  is  recalled  that  it  did  not  appear  in  1880,  when  one  of  us  vibi.od  this  region.  As  is 
well  known,  tho  female  humpbacks  are  plump,  symmetrical,  silvery  fishes  of  attractive  appear- 
ance and  good  flavor.  Aside  from  the  traditional  requirements  as  to  color  of  flesh,  the  species 
is  well  adapted  for^anuing  purposes.    No  young  of  this  species  were  found  in  the  streams. 

24.  OucorhyncbuB  keta  (Walbaim).    Dot/  Salmon.    The  young  of  the  dog  salmon  were  abundant 

in  the  Newaukum  and  Skookumchuck  rivers  at  Chehalis,  Wash.  They  average  slightly 
smaller  than  young  guinnats,  and  are  readily  distinguished  by  their  larger  eyes.    They  have 

12  or  13  branchiostegal  rays,  14  rays  in  the  anal  ftn,  130  to  135  scales  in  lateral  linea,  and  7  -f 

13  gill-rakers.  Llko  the  young  quinnats,  these  were  all  nearly  uniform  in  size,  and  were 
I'vidently  young  of  the  preceding  year. 

25.  Oncorhynchus  tschawytscha  (Walbaum).     Quinnat  Salmon.    Only  the  young  of  the  Columbia 

Itivor  salmon  were  seen  by  us  during  our  short  investigation  of  the  Columbia  and  the 
Snake.  It  had  not  yet  reached  its  spawning  beds  on  the  Snake  at  the  time  of  our  visit,  and 
the  "  close  season "  prevented  its  capture  later  in  the  lower  river.  Suoh  facts  as  we  weie 
able  to  ascertain  concerning  its  run  and  spawning-gruunds  are  therefore  based  on  interviews 
with  fisbernien  and  others,  a  kind  of  testimony  which  must,  in  this  case,  be  scrutinized 
with  more  than  usual  care.  On  the  upper  river  it  was  repeatedly  found  that  no  distinction 
was  seemingly  made  between  the  salmon  and  the  steelhoad,  aud  of  the  two  species  of  salmon 
that  almost  certainly  spawn  in  the  upper  course  of  these  streams,  no  distinctive  accounts  could 
be  had.  A  "  silver  salmon"  was,  indeed,  frequently  mentioned,  but  we  were  unable  to  ascer- 
tain whether  the  fish  thus  distinguished  was  the  female  quinnat  or  the  Mueback  (0.  nerka). 

As  already  indicated  in  our  notes  on  the  streams,  salmon  ascend  the  Snake  River  to  and 
above  the  Lower  and  Upper  Salmon  Falls,  and  have  important  spawuing-beds  in  the  main 
stream,  botti  above  and  below  these  falls.  They  are  not  known  above  the  Auger  Falls,  and 
probably  do  not  even  reach  the  foot  of  the  Great  Shoshone.  Tliey  appear  first  in  this  portion 
of  the  river  early  in  September,  or  occasionally  in  the  latter  part  of  August,  at  a  time  when 
the  streams  are  so  low  that  falls  or  dams  which  would  form  no  barrier  earlier  in  the  season 
now  keep  tliem  out  from  otherwise  favorable  spawning-beds.  This  fish  is  not  much  used  for 
food  in  the  upper  waters.  The  remnants  of  the  various  Indian  tribes  make  yearly  visits  to 
the  spawning-beds  and  occasionally  white  men  have  tried  to  put  them  on  the  market,  but 
without  success.  Great  numbers,  are,  however,  annually  killed  through  mere  love  of  destruc- 
tion. The  advent  of  the  salmon  brings  out  from  every  town  men  and  boys  with  pitchforks 
or  other  weapons,  curious  to  see  how  many  of  these  lisb  they  can  destroy.  It  is  to  be  held  in 
mind  that  these  localities  in  Idaho  and  in  the  eastern  portions  of  Oregon  and  Wasliington  are 
so  remote  from  the  canneries  that  the  people  have  no  interest  whatever  in  the  preservation 
of  the  salmon.  We  can  not,  therefore,  depend  upon  public  sentiment  to  enforce  protective 
legislation. 

We  give  below  such  information  as  we  possess  coucuruiug  the  distribution  of  salmon  in 
the  Snake  and  Upper  Columbia  rivers. 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA   RIVER   BASIN. 


4!) 


The  principal  tributaries  of  that  jiortion  of  Snake  River  which  is  nccfvssihle  to  salnion  are 
the  following:  .Salmon  I'alls  liivor  or  Salmon  Creek,  Malado  River,  lirunenu  River,  Owyhee 
Elver,  Boise  River,  Payette  River,  Salmon  River,  Oraude  Ronde  River,  Clearwater  River, 
and  Palouse  River. 

Beyond  the  fact  that  the  fish  enter  Salmon  Crock  and  ascend  it  for  a  mile  or  more,  we 
irere  able  to  ascertain  nothing  concerning  the  value  of  thia  stream. 

Malade  River  is  efVectually  shnt  off  by  high  falls  near  its  mouth.  Trout  arc  said  to  ascend 
the  stream  during  high  water  in  the  spring,  but  it  becomes  inipussablo  later.  The  stream 
often  ^oes  dry  for  a  distance  of  many  miles  along  the  lower  part  of  its  course,  and  has  also 
other  impassable  falls  iu  its  upper  course. 

Brnneau  River  was  formerly  an  important  stream  for  spawning  salmon,  which  reached  its 
head  waters  iu  October,  according  to  the  statement  of  Mr.  J.  L.  Fuller,  of  Bliss,  Idaho.  We 
»ro  informed  that  a  dam  recently  constructed  iu  the  Lower  Bruneau  now  wholly  prevents  the 
ascent  of  fish. 

The  Owyhee  River  is  still  open  to  salmon,  so  far  as  oonld  be  learned  ftom  reports.  Mr.  J. 
L.  Fuller  has  seen  them  in  the  extreme  head  waters  of  the  Owyhee  in  Nevoda. 

Boise  River,  like  the  Brnneau,  was  formerly  a  salmon  stream,  but  is  now  partly  or  entirely 
closed  by  a  dam  near  Caldwell,  and  is  unsuitable  by  placer  mining  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
stream. 

The  Payette,  Salmon,  and  Clearwater  rivers  are  all  available  spawning-grounds  for  the 
animon,  and  we  learned  of  uo  obstructions  in  these  streams. 

The  Qrande  Ronde  River  is  ascended  as  far  as  La  Grande,  where  a  dam  obstructs  further 
progress. 

A  high  falls  at  the  mouth  of  the  Pulouse  River  prevents  the  ascent  of  salmon. 

The  principal  streams  and  lakes  tributary  to  the  Columbia  River  above  the  month  of  the 
Snake  are:  Yakima  River,  Wenatchee  River,  Chelan  Lake,  Okanagan  River,  Spokane  River, 
Little  Spokane  River,  Coeur  d'Alene  Lake,  Colville  River,  Kettle  River,  and  Feud  d'Oroi'^  ~ 
River  and  its  numerous  tributary  streams  and  lakes. 

Up  to  1885  the  Yakima  River  was  visited  by  three  or  four  species  of  salmon,  including  the 
quinnat,  in  great  numbers.  Important  ipawning-beds  were  located  in  the  bed  of  the  strram; 
but  In  recent  years  but  few  salmon  have  made  their  appearance  in  this  river.  No  artiticial 
obstructions  have  been  interposed,  and  the  ileoline  can  hardly  be  due  to  any  change  in  the 
character  of  the  stream. 

We  were  not  able  to  visit  Chelan  Lake  and  Wenatchee  and  Okanagan  rivers,  and  do  not 
know  to  what  extent  salmon  frequent  these  waters.  Spokane  River,  below  the  falls,  was 
formerly  an  important  salmon  stream  containing  large  spawning-beds,  but  salmon  are  nirely 
seen  there  now.    The  steelhcad  still  occurs  in  considcrab)^  numbers  iu  the  Spokane. 

The  Little  Spokane,  as  alrcAdy  stated  elsewhere,  was  visited  by  salmou  in  great  numbers 
in  1882  and  previous  years,  but  since  3882  the  number  has  been  very  few. 

Salmon  have  never  been  able  to  roacli  Cosurd'Alene  Lake,  Spokane  Falls  apparently  having 
proved  an  effective  barrier  to  their  ascent. 

Only  the  few  milc3  of  Colville  River  below  Meyers  Falls  can  be  reached  by  salmou,  and 
it  is  certain  that  this  was  formerly  an  important  spawning-ground.  The  portion  of  Colville 
River  above  the  falls  would  prove  excellent  for  salmon,  but  Meyers  Fails  form  an  absolute 
barrier.  Kettle  River  flows  into  the  Columbia  from  the  west,  just  above  Kettle  Falls.  It  was 
not  visited  by  us,  and  we  were  not  able  to  get  any  reliable  information  regarding  it. 

The  Pend  d'Oreille  River  and  the  numerous  important  streams  and  lakes  tributary  to  it 
have  been  discussed  elsewhere  in  this  paper.  The  occurrence  of  salmon  in  Kettle  River  and 
the  lower  part  of  the  Peud  d'Oreille  is  dependent  upon  their  ability  to  ascend  Kettle  Falls. 
That  (.alniou  formerly  reached  and  ascended  the  Lower  Kettle  Foils  seems  pretty  well  estab- 
lislied;  but  whether  they  have  ever  passed  the  Upper  Kettle  Falls  is  not  so  certain.  The 
Upper  Falls,  upon  exomination,  do  not  appear  to  be  as  formidable  as  the  Lower.  The  fact 
that  so  little  evidence  could  be  secured  regarding  the  occurrence  of  salmon  in  any  of  these 
waters  renders  it  highly  probalild  tliat  at  no  time  have  they  ever  ascended  in  any  considerable 
numbers  above  the  Uppe*:  Kettle  Falls. 
S.  Mis.  200 i 


•i 

4 


50 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA   UIVEB   BASIN. 


il 


While  it  is  tnio  that  tliu  salmou  are  sliut  out  by  falls  and  dams  from  a  large  area  of  the 
Cnliiiiibia  and  especially  the  Snake  River  l)aHins,  and  while  it  is  also  true  that  the  limitations 
are  increasing  as  streams  become  useful  for  irrigation  piirposes  iind  for  mining,  it  is  never- 
theless cortiiin  that  the  decrease  in  tlie  numbers  of  salmon,  due  to  ill-regulated  tishing  in  the 
lower  Columbia,  has  so  far  outstripiied  the  deircase  in  area  of  spawniug-beds  that  the  latter 
are  now  more  thim  ample  for  all  the  fish  that  appear.  We  do  not,  therefore,  believe  that 
increasing  the  spawning-grounds  through  the  removal  of  obstructions  would  materially 
benefit  the  salmon  industry.  In  our  judgment,  the  streams  can  be  repopulatcd  only  by  regu- 
lating the  fishing  in  the  lower  Columbia  and  at  the  same  time  increasing  the  output  from  the 
hatcheries. 

The  young  of  this  species  wore  taken  iu  aliundance  at  the  mouth  of  the  Natchess  River, 
near  North  Yakima,  Wash.,  and  in  the  Pataha  Eivei  at  Starbuck,  Wash.  The  largest  indi- 
vidual seen  was  88  mm.  long,  the  8nuille.it  55  mm. ;  the  average  is  nliout  70  mm.  These  are 
evidently  the  young  of  the  previous  year,  and  their  uniformity  in  size  indiciites  clearly  that  all 
pass  out  of  the  brooks  to  the  sea,  or  at  least  to  the  deeper  river  channels,  during  the  first  and 
second  years.  We  count  in  these  young  specimens  1.S3  to  140  scales  in  the  lateral  line,  16  or 
17  branchiostegal  rays,  7  •^-  12  gill-rnkers,  and  15  or  16  rays  in  the  anal  fin. 
26.  Salmo  gairdneri  Richardson.  Steelhead.  Tlie  steelhciid  is  an  abundant  fieh  iu  the  larger  streams 
of  the  Columbia  basin,  especially  about  Spokane  and  the  mouth  of  tL'e  Fend  d'Oreille.  Sev- 
eral fine  examples  of  This  fish  were  taken  with  the  sjioon  by  Mr.  U.  A.  Beau  in  September, 
1892,  near  Spokane.  These  were  called  "saluHm"  by  the  residents,  and  Mr.  Dean  is  of  the 
opinion  that  most,  if  not  all,  the  "salmon"  which  they  take  by  trolling  are  really  not  salmon, 
but  the  steelhead.  Mr.  Bean  was  also  told  that  the  "  salmon"  about  the  mouth  of  the  Pend 
d'Oreille  and  Salmon  rivers  are  taken  by  trolling,  and  it  is  quite  likely  that  these  also  aro 
steelheads, 
37.  Salmo  mykisB  (Walbaum).    liocky  Mountain  Trout;  "iSa-pcn-f/iie"  of  Fort  Hall  Indians. 

A  very  large  serie,  i  of  trout  from  the  Columbia  basin  has  been  examined  and  from  widely 
separated  localities.  Specimens  were  not  preserved  in  every  rase,  but  an  examination  was 
made  of  trout  from  tlie  following  places:  Snake  River  at  Idaho  Falls;  Ross  Fork  and  Mink 
Creek  near  Poratello;  Liftle  Wood  River  at  Shoshone;  Pataha  River  at  Starbuck;  Little 
^Bpokone  silver  at  Dart's  Mill;  LakeCceurd'Alcne;  Lake  Pend  d'dieille  at  Sand  Point;  Pend 
d'Oreil'e  Risfer  at  various  places  between  Newpo"-*.  and  the  mouth  of  Salmon  River;  month 
of  Criville  River;  Newaukum  River  at  Chehalis;  '  ■  ^en  River  at  Hot  Springs. 

With  every  additional  collection  of  black-':,<i>...ed  trout  it  becomes  increasingly  difficult 
to  recognize  any  of  the  distinctions,  speci'.ic  or  subspecific,  which  have  been  set  up.  Tht 
present  collection  adds  not  a  little  to  the  Jiffleulty.  We  are  now  convinced  that  the  greater 
number  of  the  "subspecies"  of  S.  viykins  have  no  sufficient  foundation.  We  find  our  speci- 
mens from  the  Upper  Snake  River  (Ross  Fork  and  Mink  Creek  at  Pocatello)  to  be  typical 
mykiit,  having  small  scales,  in  176  to  180  transverse  rows,  aud  a  deep  red  dash  on  inner  side 
of  mandible.  The  spots  are  most  abundant  posteriorly,  ind  the  specimens  ore  scarcely  to  be 
distinguished  from  th<:  so-called  Salmo  mykiss pleuritiviia  of  the  Colorado  River.  When  taken 
in  the  larger  river  channels  the  fish  is  lighter  colored,  with  finer  spots  and  fainter  red  mark 
on  lower  jaw.  Between  such  typical  mykies  and  the  form  represented  in  our  collection  frort 
such  coastwise  streams  as  the  Newaukum  River  at  Chehalis,  Wash.,  there  seems  to  be  a  widn 
difference.  The  latter  has  conspicuously  larger  scales  (in  120  to  130  cross  rows)  and  nn 
red  streak  on  lower  jaw.  The  sea-run  individuals  of  this  latter  kind  we  believe  to  be  the 
■tcelhead  (<8.  gairdneri),  and  between  it  and  the  mykiii  we  are  now  unable  to  draw  any  sharp 
line.  Thus  the  Wood  River  specimens  have  fine  scales  (150  to  163  transverse  rows)  aud  usually 
no  red  dash  under  the  jaw.  Some  specimens  show  traces  of  the  latter,  and  in  such  it  is  usually 
faint  and  irregular. 

From  the  Umatilla  River  at  Pendleton,  the  Natchess  Elver  at  North  Yakima,  and  the 
Pataha  River  at  Starbuck  the  scales  are  intermediate  in  size,  ranging  from  142  to  163  in 
number,  averaging  perhaps  148.  In  these  the  lower  jaw  shows  no  red.  Specimens  from  the 
Cuiur  d'Alene  region  have  the  red  dashes  usually  very  distinct,  but  vary  greatly  in  size  of 
scales.  Wardnor  examples  look  much  like  typical  mykiga,  with  165  to  170  scales.  From 
Occur  d'Alene  Lake  we  find  130  to  106,  with  the  average  abont  145,  while  from  the  Little 
Bpokane  Biver  at  Dart's  Mill  specimens  with  conspicuous  red  dash  o.:i  mandibles  have  the 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA   RIVER   KA8IN. 


51 


■cales  avoraRin^  125  in  nniiiber.  Trout  from  the  Green  River  at  Hot  Springs,  Wash,,  and 
from  the  Newaiiltum  River  ut  Ciiolmlis  have  also  123  to  130  Hralcs.  Wo  tliiiilt  it  not  nnlikd.v 
that  the  coastwise  form  xhoiilil  be  recopiizeil  an  Salmo  mykiss  ijairdneri,  tlioiigh  the  qiiuHtiou 
Ib  sadly  in  need  of  systi'iiiatic,  and  tliorousli  iiivcsti^ation. 

The  Fort  Hall  Indians  call  thetront  Sa-pen-ijue,  whicli,  tlioy  say,  means  good  fith, 

28.  Salvelinus  malma  (Walbiiiim).     Chm-r;   "Salmon  Trout;"  "Bull  Troiil." 
Salmo  malma  Walbanin,  Arti-di  Pisciiiin,  66,  1792.    Type  locality:  Kamnhntka. 

Abundant  in  the  Pend  d'Oreille  River.  At  La  Clairns  we  siiw  in  the  possession  of  an 
Indian  several  flue  specimens,  the  largest  of  which  was  26  inolios  long,  11  inches  in  greatest 
circumference,  and  weighed  5  pounds  and  1  ounce  ;  the  length  of  the  liead  was  6  indies. 
The  people  along  the  river  know  this  flsh  as  the  "charr,"  while  in  Montana,  from  Flatlicad 
Lake  to  Missoula,  it  is  called  "  salmon  trout"  or  ''bull  trout."  One  example  was  obtained  by 
Bean  and  Woolinan  from  Lake  Pend  d'Oreille.  One  specimen  of  3  pounds  weight  was  seen  at 
North  Yakima,  which  liad  been  caught  in  ttie  Natchess  River.  iSalreliiiui  malma  has  not  yet 
been  found  in  the  Snake  River,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  it  occurs  in  that  basin  above  the  falls. 
The  only  Salvelinut  yet  known  in  that  basin  is  from  Henry  Lake,  and  was  identiflcd  by  Ur. 
Bean  as  S.  namaycusk. 

29.  Columbia  transmontana  Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann. 

Columbia  transmontana  Eigenmann  &  Eigenmann,  Scieuce,  October  21,  1892.  Type  locality  \ 
Umatilla  River,  at  Umatilla,  Oregon. 

Seventy-three  specimens  of  this  very  interesting  species  were  obtained  in  the  Walla 
Walla  Klver  at  Walliila,  Wash.,  August  23,  1893,  by  Messrs.  Tlioburn  and  Rutter.  Tlie 
largest  specimen  measnres  3|^^  inches  in  total  length.  Diligent  search  was  made  lor  this  lish 
at  the  locality  where  the  t,vpe&  were  obtained,  bnt  none  was  found.  The  specimens  taken  at 
Wallula  were  found  in  only  one  place,  about  250  feet  below  tlie  railroad  bridge,  on  the  edge 
of  a  large  patch  of  Chara  and  in  water  about  3  feet  deep,  wlu'ro  the  bottom  was  soiuewhat 
muddy.    The  temperature  of  the  water  here  was  70°  at  11 :30  n.  m.,  when  the  air  was  80°. 

Measurements  of  the  larger  specimens  give  the  following  results:  Head,  3^  to  3};  depth, 
8J  to  3};  eye,  31;  snout,  3.    D.  ii,  9;  A.  ii,  6;  V.  8;  P.  10  to  12.    Scales  9-43-8. 

Ground  color  pale  straw-color,  profusely  covered  with  fine  dark-brown  specks  which 
form  irregular  blotches  along  the  course  of  the  lateral  lino  and  on  median  line  of  back,  there 
being  1  at  anterior  base  of  dorsal  and  3  or  4  on  the  cuudiil  ))eduncle;  head  with  fine  dark 
spots  on  sides;  dorsal,  anal,  and  caudal  barred  with  dark,  Dorsal  and  anal  spines  strong; 
the  first  dorsal  spine  short,  less  than  lengtli  of  eye,  the  second  mucli  longer,  ns  lung  as  from 
tip  of  snout  to  middle  of  pupil;  first  anal  spiue  scarcely  as  long  as  first  dorsal;  secon'^.  anal 
spine  about  one-third  length  of  head;  longest  dorsal  rays  about  11  in  head ;  those  of  anal 
shorter. 

30.  Oasterosteus  mlcrooephalus  Qirard,    Abundaut  m  the  Walla  Walla  River  at  Wallula,  in  Lake 

Washington,  and  in  Skookumchuck  River  near  Cliehalis,  Wash.;  not  seen  elsewhere  by 
ns.  Specimers  t.akon  were  found  to  be  extremely  variable  in  the  extent  to  which  lateral 
shields  are  developed.  In  a  considerable  proportion  the  plates  are  developed  along  the  entire 
length  of  sides  of  body  and  the  caudal  peduncle  is  sharply  keeled.  Others  have  but  4  or  5 
plates  developed,  the  caudal  peduncle  being  then  without  trace  of  carina.  Between  these 
extremes  are  all  possible  intermediate  conditions,  thus  establishing  a  series  comjiarable  with 
that  recently  reported  on  by  Dr.  Q.  A.  Boulenger  as  occurring  in  the  common  European  species. 

31.  Cottus  asper  (Richardson).    A  single  specimen,  145  mm.  long,  from  the  Walla  Walla  River  at 

Wallula,  Wash.,  aud  two  small  specimens  from  Lake  Washington.  The  dorsals  contain  9 
spines  and  21  rays,  aud  are  slightly  connected  at  base.  Soft  dorsal  high,  the  longest  ray  21 
'  in  length  of  head,  the  posterior  rays  reaching  base  of  caudal.  Anal  fin  with  17  rays;  pec- 
torals, 16.  Interorbitttl  space  very  wide,  equaling  diameter  of  eye,  not  concave.  Prickles 
coarser  and  less  closolj  crowded  than  In  the  Sacramento  Rivor  specimens,  distinctly  visible 
without  the  aid  of  a  lens,  and  directed  upwards  and  backwards.  The  lateral  line  is  complete, 
without  abrupt  angle  under  last  dorsal  rays,  and  contains  38  pores.  Anus  separated  from  first 
anal  ray  by  a  space  equaling  two-thirds  diameter  of  orbit.  Band  of  palatine  teeth  weak. 
Anterior  nostril  in  a  short  tube.  The  coarser  prickles,  more  anterior  position  of  vent,  and 
flatter  interorbital  space  probably  indicate  that  C.  atper  is  separable,  at  least  subspeolflcally, 
from  the  Sacramento  Birer  form.    Material  is  not  now  at  hand  to  settle  this  point. 


52 


INVESTIGATIONS   IN   THE  COLUMUIA   BIVEB   BASIN. 


32.  UottUB  rbotheuB  (Rosa  Smith). 

Thin  NtronKly-marked  species  is  abundant  in  the  Spokane  region,  and  was  taken  at  the 
following  HtutionH:  Little  Spukauc  Kiver  at  Uart's  Mill  near  Siiukane,  and  lit  C'huttaruy, 
Wash. J  Columbia  Kiver  at  Colvillo,  Wash;  C<Bur  d'Aleiie  Lake  near  0(Bur  d'Alone,  Idaho; 
Clearwater  Kiver  near  Lewiston,  Idaho;  Walla  Walla  Kiver  nt  Wnllulo,  Oreg.;  Ilaugniuu 
Creek  at  Tekoa,  Wash.;  Natcliess  Kiv«r  at  North  Vakinia,  Wash.;  Newaukuui  Kiver  near 
ChehalJB,  Wash.;  Snotinulinie  Kiver  at  Snoquahiiie  Falls,  Wash. 

The  salient  leatnres  of  this  species  are:  (I)  The  |)ointed  woilgeshaped  pruHIe  of  head,  as 
viewed  from  above;  this  contrasting  strongly  with  the  iisuul  broadly-rounded  contour  of  other 
species.  (2)  The  wide  horizontal  niiiuth,  quite  at  lower  profile  of  head.  (3)  The  noticeably 
concave  Interorbital  and  occipital  regions.  (4)  The  very  broad  and  long  palatine  band  of 
teeth.  (5)  The  rather  slender  body  and  the  extremely  slender  caudal  peduncle,  the  latter 
expanding  fan-like  at  base  of  caudal  tin.  (6)  The  dorsals  usually  separate;  when  united,  at 
extreme  base  only.  (7)  Lateral  line  comp'irte.  (8)  Sides  usually  well  invested  with  prickles, 
which  are  triangular  and  coarse,  and  lean  closely  placed  tl  In  asper.  They  are  arranged 
more  or  less  detinitely  in  oblique  series.  There  is  oonsideraLii  variation  in  the  oompleteness 
of  the  investmeut,  and  in  one  specimen  from  Chehalis  an  axillary  patch  only  is  present. 

The  specimens  from  Chattaroy  and  from  Suoqualmie  Falls  are  referred  to  this  species  with 
doubts  as  to  their  identity. 

The  following  table  will  give  an  idea  of  the  amount  of  variation  in  number  of  fin-rayt, 
found  in  this  species: 


Locality. 

SplDous  dorsal. 

Soft  dorsiil. 

A  mil. 

Pectonl. 

vn. 

VIII. 

19        IT 

11 

12 

13 

16 

19 

Lateral 
line. 

LUtleSpokrtne  Kiver   

4 

s 
1 

3 

a 
1 
s 

* 
1 

6 
3 
1 
1 

1 
S 
8 

1 

I 

3 

S 

1 

...... 

1 
4 
2 
1 

1 

1 
1 

••••j- 

10 
2 

32  to  34 
32,33 

1 
2 

1 

Walla  \Va\h\  Ri ver 

1 

3 

ColvUle  Kiver  , 

...... 

1 

1 
1 

1 
2 

1 
8 

& 

1 

33.  Cottus  punctnlatuB  (Gill).    Ah-we. 

Cotiojifis  semiscaber  Coj)e.    Haydpn's  5th  Report,  1871,  476.    Type  locality:  Fort  Hall,  Idaho. 

Numerous  specimens  from  Qreen  River,  Wyoming.  Comparing  these  with  typical  lemii- 
eaber  from  the  vicinity  of  Pocatello,  Idaho,  we  can  appreciate  no  difference  whatever,  except 
in  the  matter  of  armature.  None  of  our  Green  Kiver  specimens  show  any  prickles  whatever. 
About  half  the  Pocatello  specimens  are  also  naked  and  are  indistinguishable  from  typical 
punclulalus;  in  the  others  more  or  less  prickles  are  developed,  varying  from  a  few  in  axil  of 
pectorals  to  a  baud  covering  more  than  hall' of  the  sides.  As  this  is  not  an  unusual  amount 
of  variation,  we  do  not  consider  C.  leviiacaber  worthy  of  recognition.  The  relations  of  C. 
punotulatui  with  the  eastern  species  have  not  bueu  carefully  worked  out,  and  it  seems  best 
to  recognize  it  for  the  present  as  distinct.  Specimens  from  Greeu  Kiver,  Wyoming,  and  from 
Mink  Creek,  Ross  l-'ork,  and  Port  Neuf  Kiver,  Pocatello,  Idaho.  The  collection  contains  also 
two  specimens  from  Thompson  Falls  and  three  from  Flathead  Lake,  which  seem  to  be  this 
species.    By  the  Fort  Hall  Indians  this  fish  is  called  ah-xoe,  a  word  meaning  homt.    , 

34  Cottua  perplezus,  sp.  nov,    (Plate  viii.) 

Type  locality :  Skookumchuok  River,  near  Cheholis,  Wash.,  where  13  specimens  were  col- 
lected, August  28,  18'J3,  by  Drs.  Gilbert  and  Jenkins.  Associate  type  locality:  Newaukum 
River  near  Chehalis,  Wash. ;  26  specimens,  collected  by  Drs.  Gilbert  and  Jenkins,  August  28, 
1893.  Type,  No.  45387,  U.  8.  Nat.  Miis.  Co-types,  No.  4538<i  (Newaukum  River),  U.  S.  Nat. 
Mus. ;  and  Nos.  1324  to  1343  (Skookumchuok  Kiver),  Museum  Lelaud  Stanford  Junior  Uai- 
Tersitj.    Belated  to  Cot(iMj)uttc(u2a(t(«. 


^ 


*■*>: 


Sdimijri  Fnhertt-s  uf  \t\v  Cuiunium  Rivbj,      i  T  u  tatu  page  6.V] 


PUATt   VIII. 


__  ^^J^^M^, 


F,g    I.  COTTUS  PERPLEXUS,  ip.  nov,    iTy|KM    skii,,kiiini-ljiii'k  liivfi-,  ('hiMiiilis.  WasliiiiKliM], 


Fig.  2.   COTTUS    LEIOPOMUS,  sp    "'>v.     lTy|)C.i     I.ittlii  W 1  Riv.T.  Slmshnnn.  lc',ahii 


If 

18 


INVKbTlUATlUNH   IN    THE   COLUMBIA    RIVKK   BAHIN. 


53 


i 


DoHcriptioii :  Uoad,  Z\ ;  i1e|itb,4i;  uve,4;  tDoat,4;  iuterorliital  width, 6^.  D.  vii,21;  A.  ir>; 
P.  16;  V.  I,  4.  Least  depth  of  caudal  peduncle  greater  than  luout,  3|  In  head;  interorbltnl 
■pace  rather  broad,  about  1^  in  eye. 

The  body  in  deeper  and  Diore  comprewed  than  in  any  other  apecioa  known  to  ns,  thin  being 
Mpecially  noticeable  posteriorly;  the  caudal  peduncle  is  very  bhort  and  deep,  and  Ih  entirely 
overlapped  by  the  poxterior  dorHal  rays  which  extend  beyond  base  of  caiidiil  tin.  Length  of 
caudal  peduncle  from  base  of  last  dorsiil  ray  about  (  depth  of  same.  Depth  of  boily  at  origin  of 
anal  fln  }  length  of  head.  Interorbital  space  slightly  concave;  occiput  flat  or  tranHvcrsiOy 
oonves.  Mouth  obliixue,  the  maxillary  reaching  vertical  fVom  posterior  margin  of  pupil,  2|  in 
bead.  Teeth  in  a  very  narrow  crescentio  band  on  vomer,  none  on  palatines.  Upper  prooper- 
ealar  spine  short  and  broad,  curved  or  itimply  directed  upward;  below  this  two  stout,  blunt 
■pines  directed  downward.  Body,  in  the  type  specimen,  entirely  naked;  lateral  line  incom- 
plete, not  reaching  end  of  soft  dorsal. 

Spinous  dorsal  low,  the  longest  spinea  not  greater  than  length  of  snout;  soft  flna  all  high, 
the  15th  dorsal  ray  equal  to  suout  and  eye ;  a  broad  membraiie  always  connecting  the  two  dnrHiilM, 
the  notch  iuconspicnous.  Last  rays  of  anal  as  well  as  dorsal  extend  beyond  base  of  caudal; 
first  anal  ray  under  third  ray  of  soft  dorsal;  ventral  spine  and  rays  slender  and  weak.  Anus 
midway  lietweeu  base  of  caudal  fin  and  front  of  eye 

Color  in  alrohid,  back  and  sides  with  vermiculations  of  light  and  dark,  the  back  with  6  or  6 
ill-deHned  black  crossbars,  which  usually  reach  the  lateral  line;  the  usual  black  bar  at  base 
of  caudal,  emarginate  posteriorly;  below  the  lateral  line  a  number  of  small,  quadrate,  dark 
blotches,  arranged  in  two  irregular  series;  lower  parts  unmarked  except  with  doe  dark  puuctu- 
lations;  dorsal,  pectoral,  and  caudal  fins  orossbarrod  with  dark;  aual  and  ventraU  with 
numerous  small  dark  specks.    Length,  91  mm. 

The  co-types  show  that  this  species  is  subject  to  some  variations  which  should  be  men- 
tioned. Head,  3  to 3^;  depth,  4^  to 4^.  D.  vil or  viu,  18  to 21;  A.  14  to  16;  P.  14  to  16.  While  the 
body  is  usually  entirely  naked,  there  U  occasionally  an  axillary  band  of  prickles,  sonetinies 
supplemented  by  a  single  irregular  series  of  prickles  along  base  of  the  dorsal  tin.  T  jo  notch 
in  the  membrane  connecting  the  dorsals  is  usually  inconspicuous.  In  some  exntnples  the  black 
crossbars  on  the  back  do  not  roach  the  lateral  line.  The  small,  quadrate,  dark  blotches  l)elow 
tho  lateral  line  are  sometimes  arranged  in  a  single  series  parallel  with  base  of  anal,  sometimes 
in  two  irregular  series. 

The  following  table  gives  the  fln  formula  in  a  number  of  individuals  of  this  species : 


Locality. 

Dorsal  spines. 

Dorsal  r»ys. 

Anal  rays. 

No.  of 

iip«ciint*ns 
eiamiued. 

vn. 

vm. 

18 

19 

20 

21 

" 

15 

IS 

Skooknmohtick  River 

s 

( 

4 

10 

% 

1 

4 

2 
1 

A 
8 
8 

1 
...... 

3 

1 

S 

1 
2 

6 
8 
3 

1 
1 
1 

13 

28 

6 

NAtoheu  KivBT    ........... 

From  Cottut  punotulatui,  which  it  most  closely  resembles,  this  species  may  be  distinguished 
by  its  deeper  body,  more  elongate  anal  fln,  the  broad  union  between  the  dorsals,  the  absence 
>.>'u.'i  of  palatine  teeth,  and  the  did'erent  coloration. 
35.  Cottns  leiopomua  sp.  nov.    (Xrior,  smooth;  iru/ia,  cover,  opercle.)    (Plate  via.) 

Type  locality :  Upper  Little  Wood  River,  Shoshone,  Idaho,  whore  2  specimens  were  col- 
lected, September,  1893,  by  Mr.  H.  H.  Kinsey.  Type,  No.  45389,  U.  8.  Nat.  Mus.  Co-type, 
No.  IIISI,  Musenm  Loland  Stanford  Junior  University.    Related  to  Cottui  philonipt. 

Head,  3J ;  depth,  5i ;  eye,  4j ;  snout,  3^ ;  interorbital  width,  7i;  D.  vii-17;  A.  12;  P.  13;  V. 
1,4.  Least  depth  of  caudal  peduncle  about  equal  to  length  of  snout;  interorbital  space  very 
narrow,  much  less  than  diameter  of  eye;  mouth  small,  maxillary  reaching  vertical  fron.  middle 
of  eye,  a  wide  strip  visible  laterally  in  the  closed  mouth.  Preopercnlar  spines  entirely  absent, 
<<■!  1-  ,'  the  preopercnlar  margin  evenly  rounded  throughout,  without  prominence,  and  without  the 
least  trace  of  a  spine. 


54 


INVEsTIOATIOiVS    K-f    TUF    COLUMBIA   RIVKK    BASIN. 


VimxT  with  .1  rcry  narrow  liiuirt  o'  ti-eth;  p»l".tinc8  iinlifd;  «kiii  whoUv  naked,  InU-nil 
line  "omplctd.  Dor^inl  (inn  imt  joiiitMl  iirili-st*  Btcxtn-iiie  lm«p;  fiii»  iill  Imv.  tlit^  peed. nils  l)iiri<ly 
rfB<liiiiK  fror.t  (if  iiiiiii;  fruiit  of  aiial  .tiiiler  tliird  ray  of  h*-!'"-!!!  ilortiil.  It.t  Inut  ray  under 
fourth  fmii  l,.^t  ray  of  laltir.  Tree  lortion  of  faiidnl  peiliiiicle  ^lll•!^Mld  Ia«t  anal  ruy i 
contain  m!  1}  in  licn.i;  portinii  ln-liind  tinHPof  last  dorsal  ray  3  in  heiKl;  nnither  dorsal  iiorHiiul 
roa<'liir((  liiiKo  of  raiidiij  wlien  ileiirenhcd. 

<  oloi  in  ali'oliol:  head  on  sides  rather  fiiioiy  vcrniicnlatcd  with  Hght  and  dark;  plain 
\7hii.ish  helow;  ni>t  e(  nrscly  Bpoilid  or  blodhed  as  in  philoiiijit;  dornal  barn  indistiui't;  two 
narrow  hlaok  lin<»  ilownward  and  liaokword  from  tlie  eye;  an  evenly  oonvex  dark  bar  at  base 
of  oandnl    dorsalH,  pectorals,  and  cyndal  faintly  crossbarrod. 

Len  ,'t!i  HI  mm. 

The  /«t'Cond  specimen,  which  is  71  mm.  long,  agrees  cUtsely  in  every  respect  with  the  tj  pe. 

This  species  in  very  closely  reJati'd  to  Co((u»  philnnipn,  from  wriich  il  ditVcru  only  in  the 
total  ubsenre  of  iii  y  preo])t'rcular  spine.  In  both  specimens,  and  on  each  hiilc,  the  |)rcopcr- 
ciilft '  margin  is  <•!  .'irely  rounilcd  thronf^hont,  without  any  prominence  and  without  thi-  least 
trace  of  a  spine,  't  iicems  very  imnrob.ible  thai  the  two  should  ajfrce  in  bi  in^  merely  abnor- 
mal in  tliis  rrapect,  and  we  are  forced  to  conclude  that  u  form  exists  which  "'s  peculiar  to  the 
Mulad,")  K  .■cr,  a  stream  othcrwiso  remarkable  in  its  ichthyologic  features. 

36.  CottuB  phi'oijipii  F.iKBnmann. 

!a!H  i:.,  .TiC  v;ns  projiosed  an  a  substitute  for  Colluii  miiniliia  Pallas,  s\ippo8cd  to  be  pre- 
I'ocupied,  and  Coitus  Jnlcmiilomuii  (Lockington;,  not  of  Hicclce'.  Th"  first  mentioned  is 
perfectly  available,  but  was  applied  to  a  speuimcn  from  the  island  of  'I'aiek,  near  Tanisk,  in 
the  Okhotsk  Ben.  It  is  very  doubtfvil;  therefore,  whether  C.  iniiiuliis  should  be  UBed  for  any 
American  spccioH  in  ailvance  of  conipiirinon  with  the  Siberian  form.  From  the  Aleutian 
laland  species  (C.  microslomuu  I.orkinjfton),  C.  ]ihiloni]>'  dirtVrs  in  numy  important  res|)ects, 
and  is  undoubtedly  dis*tiiic.'.  Thus  the  Alaskan  form  hiis  the  posterior  nostrils  in  short  but 
ccnspicuouB  tubes,  the  prorliital  i  rod  need  into  a  lobe  which  conceals  all  of  the  maxillary 
eice|)t  tho  extreme  tip,  ar.i   tl:e  dorunl  tin  with  8  or  9  spines  and  \'^  to  20  30ft  rays. 

Cottiit  pliilonips  is  ;>.  •"  <•.'■'■  headed  form,  typically  with  (terfectly  smooth  skin  and 
nnarmcd  palatines.  T.ike  mi  ,  other  species  of  the  genus  It  occaidonally  develops  a  band  of 
postaxillary  jirickles,  which  are  often  accompanied  in  the  snine  »i)ecimeii8  by  a  small 
f  teh  of  eeth  on  the  palatine  bones.  The  head  is  less  strongly  armed  than  usual,  the  single 
p.eopercular  spine  beiiii^  short,  the  preopercular  margin  otherwi.se  wholly  unurnu'd.  In  this 
re.spcot  C.  philonips  dilVers  from  all  other  western  species  of  Coitus,  excoi)t  the  Alaskan  form 
above  "rcatioued, 

The  dorsal  varies  from  vii  or  viii,  16  to  18  j  the  anal  from  12  to  14.  The  nostrils  are 
■without  tubes,  and  i.he  prcorbitni  little  produced,  erposiug  the  greater  part  of  maxillary  In 
closed  nioutn. 

Specimens  were  obtained  in  the  Port  Neuf  River  near  I'oentello,  at  Snnqnnlniie  Falls, 
and  in  a  spring  branch  cnii>tying  into  tlie  South  Fork  of  tho  Ciour  d'Alene  River,  near  Ward- 
ner,  Idaho.  We  have  also  seen  Hpecinnns  t.'iken  from  Birch  Creek,  in  wesleru  Idaho,  by 
Merriam  and  ISailey. 

37.  CottUB  rcargiuatuB  Hean. 

Six  small  .,pceimenH  from  Mill  Creek  at  Walla  Walla  (the  type  locality  of  marffinatiiii) 
»gTCi!  with  Bean's  description  and  diirer  from  all  other  western  .specimens  of  Coitus  which  wo 
have  spc.i  in  having  but  three  sr)ft  rays  in  the  ventral  (ins.  So  far  as  can  be  ascertained  from 
our  very  immature  specimens,  .narfiiunliit  strongly  resembles  pirpicrui,  with  which  it  agrees 
in  fin  rays,  naked  skin,  the  incomplete  lateral  line,  and  the  absence  of  palatii'e  teeth.  C. 
perpUruH  has  constantly  4  soft  rays  in  the  ventral  fins,  and  other  differinces  may  appear  when 
conipired  with  adult  speeimeiis.  In  our  Rpeeimens  of  marf/inaluii,  the  anus  varies  in  jiosition, 
being  sometimes  nearer  base  of  caudal  fin  than  snout,  sometimes  nearer  snout.  Twenty-two 
•mall  specimens,  coll"'  ted  by  Hcaa  and  Woolimm  at  Sand  Point,  Idaiio,  are  for  tho  pronent 
referred  to  tins  npeciuu,  though  we  aie  not  certain  that  this  idtmtilicatiou  is  corrects,  Tho 
veutrals  1  jcin  to  be  t,  3,  bitt  the  body  is  more  or  les*  covered  with  priukles. 


I  R  ...       (T.i 


■  MM 


F.a    1     CATOSTOMUS    POCATELLO.     .,.    -    .         T.M..-         l:..s.,  i-.,r-U  ,.r  Sn..k,-  l!n  .r    r.KUI.-ll. 


.,.*?«' 


/J   //J. 


F.g.  .'    AGOSIA    UMATILLA.  s|.    riov.     (T.VIXM     ('■■lillnliiii  liiv..|-.  I'm  II  Mill,  (Irru-ciM 


^ ;  f.  \tl 


^s^^-^tv: 


Fib    3    COREISDNUS   WILLIAMSON!    Gira. if       Mr iiliit  liii.l..       I.iltl..  S|.,.l<aiii' Hiv.T.  Ua-lliIlK 


NOT 
S 

1 


witli 
writ 
nppi 

seal 

-•  C( 

■  .1 
flip 
the 

tipii 


tim 

tolii 

bre 

the 
by  I 

tiiiii 

alu 
oxi 
iuo 


raVESTIOAlIONS    IN   THE   COLOMBIA    KIVKB    BASIN. 


NOTES  ON  WILLIAMSONS  WHITF.FISH  IN  BREEDING  COLORS,  '.ROM  LITTLE 
SPOKANE  RIVER,  WASHINGTON,  AND  REMARKS  ON  THE  DISTRIBUTION  OF 
THE  SPECIES. 

[By  Barton  A.  Bean,  auistnnt  onrator,  Department  of  KifihpH,  IT.  S.  National  Miiopiim.] 

In  the  fall  of  1S92,  wliile  on  an  investigation  of  tlic  stroams  in  eastern  Wasliington 
with  a  view  of  locating  a  nito  for  a  lisli  Iiatclieiy  for  the  U.  8.  Fish  Commission,  the 
writer  had  the  good  fortune  to  secure  a  very  flue  specimen  of  Vorcfjonnii  irilliamsoni 
npproaching  the  breeding  condition. 

As  will  be  seen  in  the  accompanying  illustration  (Plate  ix)  the  tubercles  on  the 

scales  at  this  time  are  very  prominent,  situated  on  the  middle  of  the  scales,  milk-white 

•  color,  and  forming  horizontal  lines  along  the  body  from  head  to  tail.     About  six- 

■  I  of  these  lines  can  Lo  counted  between  the  back  and  ventral  edge  of  the  body. 

The  tubercles  show  on  the  abdomen,  but  the  color  of  that  portion  of  the  body  and  of 

the  tubercles  being  similar,  they  are  indistiutst. 

Color:  Dark  on  back,  sides  a  lighter  steel  gray,  and  under  parts  white;  all  flns 
tipped  with  black;  caudal  and  adipose  flns  steel-blue. 

D.  14;  A.  13;  scales,  9-83-10 ;  pores  in  lateral  line,  80;  head,  5;  depth,  4;  eye,  4J; 
f3.  Gill  rakers  short,  about  12  below  the  angle.  Mouth  very  small,  the  maxilla 
reaching  vertical  through  front  of  eye.  Dorsal  flu  highest  in  front,  gradiuilly 
i^y.-^  ated  to  last  ray,  which  is  less  than  one-half  length  of  anterior  rays.  The  greatest 
l»«  /  of  the  dorsal  slightly  exceeds  its  length  of  base,  which  equals  the  leiigtli  of  the 
veil  il  tins,  being  considerably  less  than  the  length  of  the  pectorals,  but  exactly  that 
<jf  6iv<  mal  fln.    Caudal  ttn  deeply  forked. 

r lie  specimen  here  described  and  illustrated  measures  i>ot  quite  li  iiu-lies;  it  is 
•  mnAf  rtfMl  was  taken  in  Little  Spokane  River  uear  Clark  Springs,  October  5,  1892. 

/  otlict  examide,  a  littlelarger  (12^inches),  was  obtained  by  Mr.  A.  J.  Woolman 
ij9  t\w  little  Hpokane,  in  September,  1892.  The  tubercles  on  this  specimen  are  well 
lf«Mierv«d,  those  ou  the  former  having  disappeared  owing  to  exposure  to  the  air  and 
j^iimiHfig  while  being  drawn. 

M*  W^fo'man's  example  has  the  following  characters:  D.  13;  A.  13.  Scales  10-80-10. 
IlKft^,  V  "fopth,  4.  Adipose  fln  very  long,  the  length  of  its  base  being  contained  2J 
tKiMs  IB  the  head's  length.    Color  as  in  the  preceding. 

So  far  a»  we  are  aware  the  breeding  whiteflsh,  of  any  species,  has  not  been  here- 
tofore (leHcrit>ed  in  America.  In  Fauna  des  Vertebres  de  la  Suisse,  volume  v,  Hist. 
Nat.  des  Poissons,  Geneve,  1890,  Dr.  Victor  Fatio  presents  the  following  note  on  the 
breeding  colors  of  Ooregonua  exiguuH  of  Switzerland: 

Adult  males  differ  from  the  femalea  by  a  more  Blender  body,  larger  head, stouter  niiiz/.le  of  snout, 
the  greater  dovolopniont  of  the  paired  flns,  espociully  the  peotoriils,  and  during  the  hruoding  season 
by  a  mnre  intenae  ooliii':.tion,  ulno  by  the  stronger  and  more  numerous  opidermia  buttons,  and  some- 
times by  the  more  strongly  arched  scales  ou  the  lat<'ral  line. 

It  is  unfortunate 'I. ^t  we  failed  to  secure  female  fish.  The  whiteflsh  were  very 
abun<lant  in  the  Little  Spokane;  large  numbers  were  observed.  They  were,  however, 
exceedingly  shy  and  difflcult  of  capture,  and  our  efl'orta  to  net  them  were  entirely 
iuell'ectual. 


56 


IirVESTIOATIONS   IN   THE   COLUMBIA    RIVEK   BASm. 


In  most  of  t lie  streiimH  seined  by  Mr.  Woolman  and  the  writer  in  western  Montana, 
Itlalio,  and  VVa.diington  tlie  yoii;ig,  parr  marked  wliitefisli  was  taken.  Tliese  yonng 
lisli  were  obtained  in  several  quiet  streams,  almost  singgi^htSO  weak  was  tlie  eurreut. 
In  Spokane  Kiver  at  the  eity  of  Hpokano  large  nnmbers  of  adult  wliitetisli  eonld  be 
seen  from  tlie  eity  bridges.  Tluy  wonld  lie  or  swim  close  to  the  bottom,  keeping  in  t!!*^ 
shade  of  the  bridges,  and  wonld  bite  at  grasshoppers.  The  artificial  fly  seemed  to  have 
no  attraction  i"or  the  tisli. 

Tiiis  whitetish  grows  to  a  length  of  15  inches,  has  excellent  flesh,  and  is  by  many 
confused  with  the  grayling,  ThymaUus.  The  Columbia  Kiver  chub,  Mylocheilus  caU' 
rinuH  is  often  called  "whitelisli."  The  type  of  Con-fionvs  trilliamsoni  was  obtained  in 
the  Des  Chutes  River,  Oregon,  and  described  by  Dr.  Girard  iu  thel'roceedingsof  the 
rhiladel|)hia  Academy  of  Sciences  in  185U,  and  again  in  1858  in  the  I'acitic  Railroad 
Survey  reports.  Later  recorded  localities  are:  Willamette  and  Columbia  rivers, 
Oregon ;  tlic  Columbia  and  its  tributaries  in  Washington ;  Lake  Tahoe,  Trout  Creek  and 
Truckee  Kiver,  California:  lakes  and  streams  of  Idaho,  Montana,  Wyoming,  Colorado, 
and  I'tah.  The  species  ranges  north  into  British  Americsa  and  eastward  to  the  moun- 
tain tributariesof  the  Upper  M  issonri,  several  of  the  localities  given  by  Prof.  Evermann 
being  east  of  the  Continental  Divide. 


ANNOTATED  LIST  OF  REPTILES  AND  BATRACHIANS. 

[liy  John  Van  Denburgh,  student,  Leland  Stanford  Junior  University,] 

But  few  reptiles  and  batrachians  were  observed  by  mendiers  of  the  expedition, 
partly  been  use  no  sjiecial  effort  was  made  *;o  collect  them,  and  partly  because  they 
were  not  abundant  in  most  of  the  region  traversed.  Both  lizards  and  snakes  seemed 
to  be  rare  on  the  barren  lava  plains  of  the  Snake  Kiver,  where  Snioporun  graciosus, 
Phrynosoma  douglami,  and  Phrynosoma  platurhinuH  were  tl  e  only  species  seen.  The 
case  was  different  in  the  bottom  lands  of  the  Snake  Kiver  below  ^1  oshone  Falls,  Idaho. 
Here  lizards  were  extremely  abundant  and  in  considerable  variety.  Species  of  Uta, 
Crotnphytus,  and  Cnemidophorus  were  as  numerously  rei)resented  as  on  the  hot  deserts 
of  southern  California.  Two  8[)ecie8  of  Sveloporus  were  also  seen,  l)ut  of  these  no 
s])ecii>iens  were  secured.  The  richness  of  reptilian  life  on  the  sandy  (h)oi  of  tlie  valley 
<'<)ntrastcd  strongly  with  the  reverse  condition  on  the  lava  pluins  immediately  bordering 
the  valley  and  but  a  few  hundred  feet  above  it. 

1.  CrotaptiytuB  wisllzenii  Uaird  &  Uirard.     Two  full-grown  Hpeciincnscollbcted  iu  thr  bottoTb  landtt 

of  the  SuiiUo  River  near  Bliss,  Idaho,  August  8.     With  the  ox(  ei-tion  of  Ct.emidophorus  Ui,ri», 
Oiis  wax  tlin  tno^tt  ahiiMilaut  spucit'S  obgurv  \d. 

2.  nta  Btansbtiriana  Itainl  Sc  Uirard,     A  sitiglu  badly  mutilated  specimen  from  Snake  Rirarbott.inis, 

near  Hlis«,  takun  August  8.    The  speries  was  not  rare,  and  was  usually  obstrvod  i  u  rockN. 

3.  Sceloporus  gracioaus  Uaird  &  Giranl.     Kix  stiociuKtis  from  mar  I'oi'atiillii,  Idaho,  Augnei,3;  two 

spociuieuH  fioiu  near  Idaho  Falls,  Idaho,  Augusts;  three  spnimcus  from  near  U-natilla,  Oreg., 
August  11.  1  Ills  s]>('(<it!8  was  al\v;r,,s  observed  on  the  ground,  and  was  seen  b'>th  among  the 
roavNer  1  .inalt  and  on  the  finer  i^uiid^  and  gravels, 
4  Phrynosoma  douglaisii  (Dell).  This  pygmy  horned  toad  seemed  by  no  means  abundant.  The 
largest  Bpociin<'n,(i8  inin,  long,  was  taken  at  Pocatello,  Idaho,  August'!.  Two  other  specimens 
■were  captured:  one  on  the  Clearwater  Kiver,  7  miles  above  Lewiston,  Augutt  15;  the  other 
at  North  Yukima,  Wash,,  August  23. 


IWKSTIOATIONS    IN    Till:    <'OI,l!MlUA    UIVKK    hASIN. 


57 


5.  PhryiiOBoma  platyrhinos  liirard.     One  specinn'ii  froiii   IIJiHH,  Iilaho,  AiiKiiHt  H;  tvro— 4  iiinlr  iiimI 

a  foniiilc — from  th«  lava  plainK  betwtn'ii  SIiohIiduo  and  thp  Snuko  Uivrr,  Aii);iii*t  7.  In  tln' 
jiittiT  linulity  llic  RpBcii'H  WHS  abundnnt.  Tlio  two  specimen*  llnTc  itoc-nnd  Imvi-  lliv  nci  ic»  oi 
eiilai'ticd  giilars  almost  obsoletfl,  it  beioK  reprt'SciitiMl  on  each  »i<lo  by  two  or  lliroeNialos'lijjlilly 
more  pointed  than  thn  other  giilani.  The  iiimbcr  of  fiMooral  poren  is  8  in  the  male,  10  iu  the 
female,     The  tympanum  is  fully  sealed  In  ont,  only  partially  so  in  the  other. 

6.  Cnemldophorus  tigris  Huird  <&  Girard.     The  "sand  lizard"  wa«  the  most  ahnndanl   speeies  in 

.Snake  River  liottums,  A  Rl>if;Io  Hpecirae.n  \rus  eollectcd  near  liliss,  Idaho,  An);iirt  H.  I'liis 
aeemg  not  to  dill'cr  from  Owen's  valley  BpoolmenH,  and  wo  therefore  follow  Or.  Stejno;;er  in 
the  nse  of  the  above  name. 

7.  Thamuopbis   vagrans   (Uatrd  &  Olrard).     Altliongh   the  six  Ki>rt«r  snakes  bron^lit  in  liy    the 

expedition  show  considerable  color  variation,  they  nn(|nestionably  represent  a  single  speeies. 
They  were  collected  at  the  following  localities:  1  8peii«?en,  8and  I'oinf,  Maho,  Angnst  7;  2 
specimens,  Clearwater  Kiver  near  Lewiston,  Idaho,  August  15;  I  specimen,  I'otlalch  I'reek 
near  Jnliaetta,  Idaho,  Angust  16;  lspucimeu,Wbrduer,Idi< ho,  August  IS;  I  specimen,  Unuit ilia, 
Oregon,  August  23. 

8.  Thani'iopbla  slttalia  parietalis  (.Say).    One  specimen  of  this  variety  was  obtained  ou  the  Little 

Spokane  Uivcr  near  Spokane,  in  September,  1892,  by  Mr.  A.  .1.  Woolman. 

9.  Crotalus  lucifer  Haird  &  (Jirard.    A  single  spjcinien  taken  on  t'le  Snake  Kiver  between  I'w in 

Falls  and  Shoshone  Kalis,  Idaho.     The  rattler  in  said  to  be  not  abundant  in  that  vicinity. 

10.  Dlemyctylus  torosus  (Kscb).    Two  specimeus  found  in  Skookumchuck  Hiver  near  Chehalis. 

Wash  ,  August  28. 

11.  Bufo  columbieusis  Itaird  &.  Oirard.    One  young  specimen,  Umatilla,  Oregou,  August  23,  and 

one  adult,  Pocatello,  Idaho,  Augnst  3. 

12.  Hyla  regllla  Baird  &  Girard.    One  specimen,  Cliehalie,  Wash.,  August  28. 

13.  Rana  aurora  Baird  &  Girard.     Four  specimens  from  Skookumchuck  River  near  Chehalis,  Wash., 

Aug.i8t  28. 

14.  Rai^a  pretiosa  Baird  &  (-irard.     Seven  speoimenH,  Sand  Point,  Idaho,  August  7;   1  specimen, 

Pendleton,  Oreg.,  August  12;  li  specimens.  (  I'Ifax,  Wash.,  August  17;  1  rpecimou,  Little 
Spokane  Kiver,  Dart's  Mil.,  Washington,  Auciist  18;  4  specimens,  Cu'ur  d'Alene,  Idaho, 
August  21 ;  5  rfpecimen.  Post  (^reek,  Montana,  September  18,  1892;  1  specimen,  Thompson  Falls, 
Montana,  September  19,  1892,  6  spetnmens.  Hand  Point,  Idaho,  September  L'O,  1892;  7  speci- 
mens. Little  Spokaae  River.  Spokane,  Wash.,  September,  1892;  3  specimens,  Clurk  bpring. 
Spokane,  Wash.,  October  5,  1892. 

15.  Rana  pipiens  braobyoepbala  (Cope).    One  specimen  of  this  bandsonu<  frog  was  secured  in  the 

Boise  Hiver,  at  Caldwell,  Idaho,  Augusts.  The  collection  made  by  Messrs.  Ilean  and  Wool- 
mau  contains  three  specimens  £com  Post  Creek,  Montana  (September  18),  and  one  from  Sand 
Point,  Idaho  (September  20). 


SjlTon  F  shefie*  of  Uie  Cmurro-j  Rv^r      ( Tti  »ii#  pi^e  58  i 


Plail  X. 


SPOKANE   FALLS.   SPOKANE,   WA'='HlNGTON       PART   OF   THE   UPPEf?   FALLS. 


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Pi  »TC    XI. 


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33  WIST  MAIN  STRHT 

WIBSTIR.N.Y.  USIO 

(716)S72-4S03 


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Salmon  F 


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Salmon  Fithariet  of  Ihs  Columbia  River.    (To  face  page  58.) 


PLATE  Xm. 


MVERS   FALLS,   COLVILLE   RIVER      TOTAL    DESCENT  ABOUT  80  FEET. 


LOWEF.   "SETTLE   FALLS    COLUMBIA   RIVER 


